A Clarkston man injured while working on a garbage truck remains in critical condition fighting an infection.
24-year-old Chris Mersino suffered serious injuries to his abdomen and lower extremities after the garbage truck he was riding backed up and drove over him. The incident occurred on Jan. 5 at approximately 1:30 p.m. after Mersino fell from the truck, as stated in a press release from the Waterford Township Police Department.
The driver of the truck was a 39-year-old Waterford resident.
Mersino is employed by Smith’s Disposal, a 55-year-old Clarkston-based garbage collection company. Mersino remains at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak fighting an infection, according to his fiance’s mother JoAnn Zulinski.
‘He’s got a bad infection and they don’t know where it is,? said Zulinski. ‘But every day miracles have been happening. We just want everyone to keep praying. We’re praying that they can find the infection so he can start healing.?
Zulinski said Mersino can open his eyes, but is in a groggy state.
Just weeks prior to the accident, Mersino and Ana Moor, who have a 4-year-old daughter named Hailee, were beginning to look for wedding halls.
?(Ana’s) doing the best she can. She just wants everyone to pray,? said Zulinski. ?(Hailee) doesn’t really understand. She wants to see him, but knows she has to wait.?
‘It’s just a tragic accident? I wished it never would have happened. Everyone’s praying because he was part of the family here. We’re very much concerned and we’d like to get updates,? said Smith’s Disposal owner Ken Smith.
According to Smith, Mersino was hired by Smith’s in April after a spokeswoman for the business talked to Zulinski in her hair salon.
‘We were talking and she told me that Chris and Ana couldn’t get married until he got a better job. I think she knew we paid well and had good benefits and she asked me to see if we could get Chris a job. Because of that we gave him a job. We are all praying for Chris and his family,? said Smith’s Disposal spokeswoman Carol Evans in a press release.
‘We (are) especially upset about this. We have an exceptional safety record and treat our employees very well. They are well paid and receive fully paid health insurance and other benefits,? added Evans.
Smith confirmed a MIOSHA investigation is underway.