Parsippany, NJ (April 29, 2026) – A sanitation worker is in intensive care after being pinned between a garbage truck and a car while collecting trash on Tuesday, April 29. The crash happened around 7:03 a.m. near the intersection of Vail Road and Arnold Drive in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany.
Anthony Shandra, 48, an employee of the Parsippany Department of Public Works Recycling and Sanitation Division, was loading trash into the rear of a stopped garbage truck when a Nissan Altima struck the back of the vehicle. The impact trapped Shandra between the car and the truck, leaving him with severe injuries to his lower extremities.
Emergency units responded and provided lifesaving care at the scene. Shandra was later taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and remains in intensive care.
The 29-year-old driver of the Nissan Altima stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. What caused the driver to strike the stopped truck has not yet been confirmed.
The incident remains under investigation, and more details will be released as they become available. We are thinking of Anthony and his family as he receives medical care.
How Common Are Crashes Involving Sanitation Workers in New Jersey?
Sanitation workers face higher-than-average road risks because they work directly alongside moving traffic. Garbage trucks make frequent stops, often in residential areas where drivers may not expect a stationary vehicle ahead. In New Jersey, roadway work zones and stopped service vehicles are a known hazard for both workers and drivers.
Crashes involving rear-end collisions into stopped trucks can cause life-altering injuries, particularly when a worker is positioned at the rear of the vehicle. Many states have laws requiring drivers to slow down and move over for stopped service vehicles, similar to rules that apply near emergency vehicles. Whether a driver is distracted, speeding, or simply not paying attention, the consequences for workers on the road can be severe.
