An Omaha man is in the hospital after being struck by a vehicle while collecting garbage early Thursday morning.
Council Bluffs Police say just before 7:30 emergency crews were called to the area of 38th and Avenue G for an accident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Authorities say 53 year old Mario Rodrigues was emptying a trash can at the back of a Red River Waste Solutions truck when a car hit him.
The driver of the vehicle, 27 year old Chantel Wachner of Council Bluffs, told police the sun was in her eyes, and was putting down her sun visor when she hit Rodrigues. The truck's lights were flashing, but Wachner says she did not see the garbage truck.
Rodrigues was trapped between the truck and car for a time, but was eventually freed. He was taken to Nebraska Medicine with severe leg injuries. Police say the extent of his injuries is not know at this time, but they are not believed to be life threatening.
Wachner was cited for Failure to Maintain Assured Cleared Distance.