Officials: Garbage collector struck by car

A garbage collector crossing a street after hopping off the back of his truck is fortunate to be alive after being struck by a passing car in Medford Tuesday morning, Suffolk County police and fire officials said.

The accident happened at about 7:30 a.m. near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Greenport avenues.

Police said Juventino Vernal of Bay Shore suffered "nonlife-threatening injuries" in the accident and was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue.

His condition was not immediately known Tuesday.

Police said Vernal, whose age was not known, had just hopped off the back of his garbage truck and was crossing the street when a 1997 Chevrolet sedan coming in the opposite direction struck him.

The driver of the Chevy remained at the scene and police said he was not cited.