Second Accident Involving Richland Garbage Truck in Weeks

For the second time in less than three weeks, a Richland garbage truck has been involved in an accident, this latest one injuring the driver.

   Recently, a Richland truck rolled down a hill and through a home, causing severe damage and rendering the home uninhabitable, according to officials.  It also caused extensive damage to the lawn and neighbors yard.

Then Thursday, a fully-loaded Richland truck collided with a stone wall on Highway 240 West.  The truck, weighing about 12 tons, went off the road and driver Abel Madrigal, 42, was taken to Kadlec for injuries.

Officials say he's lucky to be alive, as the crash could have been much worse.  Richland public works officials are looking into why it occurred, in the case of the first accident, a faulty brake was the culprit - allowing the truck to roll into the home.

Officials plan a full investigation into not just the damaged vehicles, but others as well to see if there are any issues causing the accidents.