Overview
- A garbage truck driver heard a man screaming early Friday while emptying a recycling dumpster behind a Westheimer Road shopping center and called 911.
- Houston Fire Department crews used an aerial ladder and a Stokes basket to lift the man from the back of the truck and transfer him to a stretcher before he was taken to a hospital.
- Officials said the man was conscious and able to help as he was moved, and they reported he had injured his legs; one HFD account noted a broken leg.
- Responders said the dumpster held mostly cardboard and no valuables, and investigators have not determined whether the man was dumpster diving, seeking shelter, or in the bin for another reason.
- The incident highlights risks in waste-collection work and follows routine HFD rescue training, and officials say the case remains under active investigation with procedural and safety reviews possible.