A routine trash route turned into a fatal scene Wednesday evening on Old Millington Road in north Shelby County, where a sanitation worker was hit and killed by a passing vehicle just south of Little John Road. Deputies and emergency crews pronounced the worker dead at the scene while sheriff's investigators worked the crash, a grim reminder of how dangerous roadside work can be.
According to Action News 5, the collision happened around 5 p.m., when deputies say a passing car struck the worker. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office told the station the driver remained at the scene, and investigators have not yet said whether any charges will be filed. The report was filed by Jacob Gallant.
Where It Happened
The crash occurred on a rural stretch of Old Millington Road just south of Little John Road in north Shelby County, north of Millington. The two-lane route connects small residential roads and county routes and is heavily used by local traffic and service vehicles, including sanitation crews.
Sanitation Work Is A High-Risk Job
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,070 fatal work injuries nationwide in 2024, and transportation-related occupations remain a leading category for workplace deaths. Safety coverage after the CFOI release noted that refuse and recyclable material collectors are among the occupations with elevated fatal-injury rates, underscoring the danger sanitation workers face while working on busy roads. RouteSmart highlighted that pattern.
Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office are continuing to investigate the circumstances around the collision. Action News 5 reported that deputies had not released the worker's identity pending family notification. Officials said the driver remained at the scene and that investigators would determine whether any charges are warranted. The sheriff's office had not provided additional public details as of the initial report.
How Drivers Can Help Prevent Tragedies
Tennessee's Move Over law requires motorists to move over, when safe to do so, or slow down when approaching stopped emergency, utility and solid-waste vehicles, a rule intended to protect roadside workers and first responders. State transportation officials say creating a buffer for crews reduces risk and that violations can carry fines and other penalties, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
