MESA, Ariz. — A 39-year-old man has died after he was hit by a garbage truck Wednesday morning in the East Valley.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched at about 10:15 a.m. to reports of a collision involving a garbage truck near Broadway and Ellsworth roads.
Upon arrival, deputies learned a man using a wheelchair was struck about 60 feet from the intersection. He died at the scene, officials said.
MCSO said the man reportedly leaned out into the roadway at the time he was hit by the truck.
“In this situation, he was coming off the sidewalk. It’s very dangerous. A lot of these vehicles don’t see you because they’re either high or just big so just be careful. Always use a crosswalk and if you’re not sure, just wait until traffic stops so you can cross," Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez said.
The truck's driver is cooperating with deputies and the crash remains under investigation. The deceased man's identity was not disclosed.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
UP TO SPEED
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.