A man was killed Wednesday when a garbage truck backed into him as he was walking his dog, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
ORLANDO, Fla. — "It's a tragedy. It's beyond bizarre," said Bob Rice, who lives around the corner.
James Lear, 73, was walking his dog on Prestbury Drive near Kelsall Drive in Orlando when he was struck, troopers said.
"Who would think that you're just going to walk your dog and then you're going to have this kind of accident? It would never cross my mind," said Gabriel Diaz, Lear's neighbor.
A garbage truck driven by Walner Philippe, 42, was backing up from the west side and hit Lear and his dog, troopers said.
Troopers said Lear did nothing wrong. Diaz described him as friendly and "part of the fabric" of life in their tight knit community.
"He's going to be missed," Diaz said.
Lear died at the hospital and the dog is being cared for at a veterinarian clinic.
Diaz said Lear would walk his dog every day.
Charges are pending and the crash remains under investigation, troopers said.
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