Lowndes County, AL — December 10, 2025, Paul Samskar was killed in a garbage truck accident at about 3 p.m. on State Highway 12 east of Columbus.

Authorities said a pickup and a Golden Triangle Waste Services garbage truck collided north of Lisa Perkins Road.

The driver of the pickup, 67-year-old Vernon resident Paul Samskar, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

One of the two workers on the garbage truck was hospitalized with moderate injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lowndes County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read that a man lost his life in a crash involving a garbage truck, the first question they naturally ask is, “How exactly did that happen?” At this point, authorities have only said the crash involved a pickup and a garbage truck on Highway 12. That’s a start, but it leaves far more questions than answers, and those details are the key to understanding who, if anyone, was at fault.

From a legal standpoint, it’s impossible to know what went wrong here without first understanding the sequence of events. Did one of the vehicles veer into the other’s lane? Did someone try to turn or stop suddenly? Was either vehicle pulled over on the shoulder at the time? Each of those possibilities would point investigators in very different directions. The current reports don’t make any of that clear.

Something else that stands out is that this involved a garbage truck operated by a waste services company, not a municipal vehicle. That’s important because it means the company, Golden Triangle Waste Services, likely owned the truck and employed the workers onboard. That opens the door to evaluating not just the actions of the driver, but the company’s role in what happened. For example:

• Was the driver properly trained and qualified?
• Was the truck in good working condition?
• Were there any distractions or violations, like cell phone use or speeding, at play?
• What do the truck’s onboard systems (if any) show about its location, speed and braking before the crash?

Commercial trucks, including garbage trucks, often have engine control modules (sometimes called “black boxes”) that preserve critical crash information. If Golden Triangle Waste Services has preserved that data, as they are legally required to do it could help reconstruct the crash and identify potential fault. In-cab cameras, cell phone records and GPS logs can also help fill in the gaps left by eyewitness statements or sparse police reports.

There’s also the question of what the truck was doing at the time. Garbage trucks often stop frequently or travel slowly as part of their route. Depending on whether this truck was moving or stopped, different questions arise. If it was stopped, was it properly marked or pulled over safely? If it was moving, was it merging, turning or perhaps backing up? Any of those actions could play a role in how the pickup became involved.

As it stands, one man has lost his life and another person was hospitalized, yet there’s still no public account of how the crash unfolded. That’s why thorough, independent investigation is so important; not just to identify who’s responsible, but to ensure that all parties involved are held to account based on the facts, not assumptions.

Key Takeaways:

• Current reports don’t explain how the crash happened or which vehicle may have caused the collision.
• Critical questions remain unanswered, including whether the garbage truck was moving or stopped at the time.
• The truck’s onboard data, in-cab video and maintenance records will be crucial to understanding what led to the crash.
• Because the truck was operated by a private company, their hiring, training and vehicle safety practices may be relevant.
• A full investigation is necessary before any conclusions can be made about fault or accountability.