Garbage Pile-Up Stops Man's Apparent Suicide Attempt
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- One week after a blizzard paralyzed the city, the snowdrifts were melting Sunday but the mountains of trash were growing.
The build-up of trash, however, may be the reason why one Manhattan man is still alive.
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WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reports
Police said a 26-year-old man, apparently trying to commit suicide, jumped from a 9th floor window Sunday afternoon at 325 W. 45th Street. However, he landed on a pile of uncollected garbage bags, which padded his plummet and eventual fall.
People called 911 and police arrived at the residential building between 8th and 9th avenues, where they found the man in a semi-conscious state. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he is in stable condition.
Trash collection had been suspended while crews struggled to plow city streets in the aftermath of last Sunday's powerful snow storm, which left behind 20 inches of snow.
The Department of Sanitation announced it would resume garbage pickups on Monday.
"We are able to resume garbage pickups now that significant progress has been made," Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said.
Recyclables won't be collected until further notice, but Christmas trees will be picked up. Alternate-side-of-the-street parking rules will be suspended again on Monday.
