Woman hit and killed by garbage truck

Posted at: 09/17/2012 12:27 PM | Updated at: 09/17/2012 10:48 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

A 71-year-old Penfield woman out getting her mail was struck and killed by a garbage truck.

Officials tell News10NBC the victim was Ann Reddington. She was a mother of four.

It happened just before noon on Shadow Pines Drive off Whalen Road in Penfield. The victim has been identified as Ann Reddington. Her death stunned her many friends and family. 

News10NBC was there when Reddington’s two childhood friends arrived from Syracuse and a deputy broke the news to them. Moments later, another friend arrived holding a dish to pass in her hands. They were all in shock and disbelief. Two of the ladies had driven in from Syracuse to join Reddington and a fourth friend for lunch, something they did three or four times a year. 

The sheriff says Reddington was getting her mail at the road in front of her home and was struck and killed when the garbage truck backed up.  The truck was owned by Suburban Disposal. 

Residents were asked to park on Whalen Road and walk into their homes for nearly three hours after the accident. News10NBC spoke to one of Reddington’s friends. 

Anne Shanahan, Friend of Victim: She was just my best friend. She was the most wonderful person. She thought of everyone else always. And this is such a tragic thing. I was to have lunch with her. I was coming here at noon and the accident was just before that and God has her now in Heaven because she was just a beautiful, beautiful person.” 

Sheriff’s Deputies took the driver of the garbage truck away for questioning. The sheriff says it looks like the driver could be ticketed for unsafe backing. That’s a traffic violation. The sheriff says there’s nothing to indicate further charges.

The incident remains under investigation.

Suburban Disposal says it's not uncommon for garbage trucks to back up along their route. He said they're allowed to do anything a car can do. The truck has a loud beeping alarm as it backs up. The driver also followed procedure and sounded his horn. Suburban Disposal sends its condolences to the victim's family and others affected by the tragedy.

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