Man in dumpster emptied into sanitation truck in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, NC (WWAY) – A 29-year-old man survived being in a trash compactor early this morning.

Jacksonville police say the man was in a dumpster when it was tipped into a city commercial sanitation truck.

Police officers report the man told them he had been checking dumpsters for his stolen phone and wallet when the dumpster was tipped.

After some other pickups were made, and the compactor activated twice, the sanitation truck driver was alerted to sounds from the hopper and helped the man get out of the truck.

EMS was called and Police interviewed the man.

He was taken to Onslow Memorial Hospital and later transferred to Vidant Hospital in Greenville.

The City of Jacksonville says this is the first time something like this has happened.