Worker severely injured when his legs are run over by a trash truck

Southeast Missourian

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man was flown to a St. Louis hospital this morning after he was injured attempting to hop back onto a trash truck.

Rodney Sparkman, 34, was injured at about 8:25 a.m. in an accident that occurred in the "east-west alleyway between 12th and 13th streets [and] Tremont and Spring" streets, according to Poplar Bluff police patrolman Kenny Carpenter.

The large truck was being operated southbound on 12th Street by Aaron Eldridge with Eldridge Trash Service, Carpenter explained.

Carpenter said, it appears Sparkman was attempting to jump back onto the "riding step on the back of this trash truck" and slipped on wet grass. His legs slid under t he tires of the oncoming truck. Carpenter said Sparkman suffered serious injuries to both legs below the knees, and damage to his right hand.

Sparkman was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and then flown to St. Louis University Hospital for further treatment.