Crime & Safety

No Charges Expected in Death of Town Sanitation Worker

Victim had just emptied municipal trash, was returning to cab when struck down.

Nassau Police say no charges are pending in Monday's fatal crash that left an Oyster Bay Town Highway employee dead beside his garbage truck.

Homicide Squad detectives identfied the victim as Steven Giacobello, 45, of Westbury, who was on duty when he was stuck down about 7:10 a.m. on West Main Street in the hamlet of Oyster Bay.


Giacobello, a father of three, had just emptied refuse containers into the hopper of the garbage truck and was returning to the truck's cab when he was suddenly struck. The collision took place in front of the popular Verelli's Market and in sight of the historic Raynham Hall Museum.

Detectives said the victim was hit by a 2007 Mini Cooper driven by an unidentified Bayville woman. The 25-year-old driver approached the garbage truck from behind, traveling eastbound.

Police at the scene Monday believe the driver may have been blinded by the sun.

Giacobello suffered severe head trauma in the incident. He was rushed to a local hospital where he pronounced dead by a staff doctor, police said.

On the Oyster Bay Patch Facebook page, multiple tributes were left for Giocobelli:

"RIP STEVE. You were a great friend to me over the years," wrote Dylan Reece. "This Lowie is for you old friend. Cheers."

Added Joseph DjEclipse Pecora: "RIP Steve...you were a great guy. Condolences to your family."

A brake and safety check was performed on the Mini Cooper at the scene. The driver was not charged and that no charges are pending, police said early Tuesday.

Town officials issued no formal statement on Monday. Giacobello was attached to the highway division, which picks up municipal garbage contained in public containers, as opposed to private garbage cans. One such public container is located in front of Verelli's Market.





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