September 30, 2009 – Antonio Gaspar, 38, of Escondido, was killed Tuesday when the raised bin of the dump truck he’d driven to the Miramar Landfill fell on him, crushing him against the frame of the vehicle, authorities reported.

The fatal accident at the waste-processing yard in the 5100 block of Convoy Street was reported about 11 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Gaspar had just dumped his load of refuse from the modified Dodge 3500 when the mechanism used to tilt the rear bin apparently got stuck, said Jose Ysea, a spokesman for the city Environmental Services Department.

Gaspar was working underneath the raised waste container, trying to fix the problem, when it suddenly fell on top of him, Ysea said. Several Landfill employees rushed over and lifted the bin off the victim, who then fell to the ground.

The workers performed CPR until medics arrived and took over the unsuccessful lifesaving attempt.  Gaspar died at the scene.

Gaspar may have disconnected hydraulic lines connected to the truck’s bin-tilting mechanism just before the accident occurred, officials said.

The death has been ruled an accident, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.