Sanitation worker dies after falling from truck on first day on job

Published August 20, 2026 11:15 AM PDT

A South Carolina sanitation worker died Monday after falling from the back of a garbage truck on his first day on the job, according to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler.

Dig deeper:

The coroner identified the worker as 32-year-old John Derrick Dover of Goucher-Green Bethel Road in Gaffney.

Fowler said Dover was one of two workers riding on the rear platform of a garbage collection truck as crews emptied rollout carts around 1:50 p.m.

The truck was turning from Bonner Road onto Hayes Road when Dover fell from the truck and struck the pavement.

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Dover was taken by ambulance to Spartanburg Medical Center, where he died at 3:26 p.m.

Fowler said the circumstances surrounding the death were especially tragic because it was Dover's first day on the job and his father was driving the truck at the time of the accident.

What they're saying:

"Our hearts and prayers are with this family," Fowler said.

What's next:

An autopsy will be performed as part of the coroner's investigation into Dover's death.

The Source: The information in this story came from Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, who identified the victim and provided details about the accident. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

South Carolina