DPW Worker Dies in Industrial Accident

At approximately 12:40 am, on December 14, 2005, 42-year-old Rafael Valladares, of the 3900 block of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>Nicholson Street in Hyattsville, Maryland, was working and riding on the back of a Department of Public Works trash truck.  While in the 800 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE, the truck apparently hit the median strip, causing Mr. Valladares to fall.  He was taken to the WashingtonHospitalCenter?s MedStar Unit and pronounced dead at 1:09 am.

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The incident is classified as an industrial accident.