Driver dies after crash involving St. Louis City garbage truck

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A fatal crash in north St. Louis City is being investigated.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reported a call for an accident with injuries at around 10:20 a.m. Thursday at West Florissant Avenue and Arlington Avenue in north St. Louis City.

According to police, a Chevy Cobalt traveling westbound on West Florissant veered into the eastbound lanes for unknown reasons. The Chevy then hit a St. Louis City Refuse truck traveling eastbound on West Florissant. The truck had tried to avoid the collision, causing the truck to roll onto its side; the city truck was left on its side for hours, according to First Alert 4 crew at the scene.

Police also say that during the crash, a wheel broke off of the Chevy and hit a nearby Kia Sportage.

The driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as 40-year-old Gemayel Bell.

The truck driver, a 58-year-old man, was taken to the hospital and is listed as being in stable condition. The occupants of the Kia were uninjured.

Accident reconstruction is being called to investigate.

Slow-down signs are along the side of West Florissant Avenue, a stretch of road both neighbors and police say is familiar with crashes.

“Once or twice a month,” said LaTonya Demby.

Demby lives just feet away from where the deadly head-on crash happened Thursday morning.

“It was like a big boom. It sounded like an accident; I wasn’t sure what it was until I came outside, and a neighbor was telling me that it was a city truck involved,” said Demby. “People have to be more careful and mindful around here.”

Police say a month ago, a woman was killed blocks away from Thursday’s collision.

The Urban League of St. Louis started a ‘slow down’ campaign a year and a half ago, warning drivers to slow down, especially along West Florissant.

“We want them to really understand how important it is that when you get behind the wheel, that you take the time to realize how much is in jeopardy. Everyone wants to make it home safely,” said James Clark, the organization’s Vice President of Public Safety.

Police are still investigating if speed was a factor in this accident.

“We would encourage everybody to slow down and be safe,” said Adam Duke, Police Lieutenant of the 6th District.

“These things are called accidents, they’re not called ‘on purposes’, they can happen to anyone, but we want people to be responsible,” said Clark.

Police say the garbage truck driver is a veteran employee of the City.

This article will be updated.

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