Man, 82, loses leg after he's hit by garbage truck, cops say

The man was struck as the truck was backing up, police said

HOWELL -- An 82-year-old Howell man was critically injured and his leg was amputated when he walked into the path of a garbage truck in town on Thursday, authorities said.

The man, whose identity has not yet been released, suffered severe injuries in addition to the leg amputation, said Howell police Chief Andrew Kudrick Jr.

The man walked into the path of a garbage truck that was backing up at the Cherry Tree Plaza office park on Route 9 at 10:56 a.m., authorities said.

Kudrick said Cpl. Matthew Bishop immediately applied a tourniquet to the victim to stop the bleeding.

"No doubt that saved his life up to this point," Kudrick said.

The man was taken under police escort to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was in extremely serious condition, Kudrick said.

The garbage truck was from Central Jersey Waste and Recycling in Ewing Township, the chief said.

The police department's Traffic Safety Unit is conducting the investigation.