Sanitation Workers Save Resident’s Life

BERKELEY – Two sanitation workers driving a garbage truck were responsible for saving a man’s life, and were lauded at a recent Township Council meeting for their quick thinking and compassion.

Patrick Rowley and Louis Velazquez were driving a garbage truck on June 17, Mayor John Bacchione explained.

Rowley noticed a driver slumped behind the wheel of his car. Rowley was driving, and engaged the air brakes to make a sudden stop of the garbage truck so it wouldn’t crash. Meanwhile, Velazquez called 911.

The two men got out of their truck to help the resident. They pulled him out of the car and into the shade.

According to Weather.com, June 17 in Berkeley had a high of 85 degrees.

They stayed with the driver, assisting him as best they could, until medics arrived shortly thereafter.

“Mr. Rowley’s and Mr. Velazquez’ actions not only saved the driver’s life but also prevented harm from innocent bystanders who could have been injured if the truck had not stopped in time,” Bacchione said, reading from the proclamation that honored the two employees of the Public Works Department.

Deer Problem

In other news, the deer situation in the senior communities continues to be a concern.

Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich shared a story of her own close encounter with a deer while she was driving, and explained how dangerous and frightening they are to drivers.

One of the reasons the deer come around is because some residents feed them, she said. She was hoping to curtail this behavior by having signs posted in the Holiday City and Silver Ridge Park sections of town that explain it’s illegal to feed wildlife. These signs would also list the fines that come with breaking the town code. This might drive home the point that inviting the deer makes it a problem for neighbors.

Mayor Bacchione suggested some clarification on the language that would be used on the sign so that it can’t be misconstrued in any way, but liked the idea. They both said the exact wording could be worked out later.