A City of Houston garbage truck hit a parked car and then drove away. The crash was caught on camera.
HOUSTON — A Houston family said they were left searching for answers after a city garbage truck slammed into a parked car in their south side neighborhood and drove off without a word.
The whole thing was caught on a neighbor’s surveillance camera.
“I’m looking at the whole front bumper being torn off, the headlight is obviously just hanging there, and it looks like part of the fender on the inside is twisted,” said Daniel Bahena, who said the car belongs to his sister.
It happened just before 11 a.m. Wednesday on Faraday Drive, in a residential neighborhood near Almeda Genoa and Highway 288. The family wasn’t home at the time.
“We were like playing kind of detective work on Thursday. OK, we need to figure out who did this and why they did it,” Bahena said.
The surveillance video shows a City of Houston Solid Waste Management truck hitting the white sedan, then continuing down the road without stopping. Bahena said they didn’t even know what happened until they saw the footage.
“Why didn’t he stop? You know, at least put a note on the windshield or door, but none of that happened,” Bahena said. “I don’t know if you can see in the video, he did accelerate, like just trying to leave the scene.”
Bahena said the driver didn’t even complete his job.
“He didn’t even pick up the trash,” he said. “He just left it behind.”
The family is now dealing with thousands of dollars in damage. Bahena, who is an auto technician, estimates repairs could cost between $3,000 and $6,000. The problem? His sister only has liability insurance.
“This is a daily driver vehicle, and it just needs to be running,” he said.
Asked who should pay, Bahena said, “I would say the City of Houston, or they have to do something about it.”
He said they initially called 311, filed a police report, and were told to file a claim in person at the annex building downtown. But nearly two days later, they were still left without any answers.
That changed once KHOU 11 News started asking questions.
In a statement, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department said: “The Solid Waste Management Department wants to ensure the safety of all residents and their property. We will perform a full investigation of this incident and reach out to the resident today.”
A city spokesperson confirmed the driver has been pulled from duty and could face corrective action, including possible indefinite suspension, depending on prior infractions. The department said the case and video have also been submitted to the city’s legal department for review.
So, what does the family want?
“At least, you know, fix the car. That’s it. Very simple. That’s it. Just fix the vehicle,” Bahena said.
If you believe a city vehicle damaged your property, you can file a claim through the City of Houston Legal Department. Visit houstontx.gov/legal/claims.html for more information.