Man Struck And Killed By City Salt Truck On South Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 57-year-old Department of Streets and Sanitation worker was killed Thursday night when a department salt truck backed over him in a parking lot on Chicago's South Side.
The salt truck was backing up in a parking lot near 53rd and LaSalle streets around 8:30 p.m., when it ran over 57-year-old Yulelander Seals, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
Seals, who lived in West Pullman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The city's Department of Streets and Sanitation confirmed Seals was a longtime operating engineer for the department.
A memorial was set up for Seals, a man who helped keep this city running for decades.
"He loved his job, yes," said Seals' younger sister, Christina Erich. "His favorite thing to do was play the drums. Any opportunity that he got to minister on the drums, he would definitely do it."
Erich talked to her brother not long before the devastating call.
"I was just was telling him, you know, take it easy, don't do too much. You know regular little sister stuff," she said. "I'm definitely devastated. I wasn't expecting this at all. We're just trying to get through it as best as possible."
"We're just so devastated and shocked by this whole occurrence of events," said Seals' brother-in-law Corey Allen. "We're not here to question anybody or ask why. You know, unfortunately, it was it was an accident."
Seals leaves behind two children, grandchildren, and his wife Camilla, who with whom he loved traveling the world.
A spokesperson for the Department of Streets and Sanitation called it an unfortunate accident.
"We are currently conducting a full investigation into the incident. We send our deepest condolences to the family of our colleague who was a true public servant for over 25 years," Streets and Sanitation spokeswoman Cristina Villarreal said in a statement.
The Chicago Police Department Major Accidents Investigation Unit also was investigating.
