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Our people in action.
Waste Management Driver John Gompf was headed to
the next stop on his route, making his way along a winding, mountainous
portion of California Highway 89, when he approached a bend and
saw a line of stopped vehicles along with a cloud of dust and debris.
As he came closer, Gompf saw the reason for the congestion: a Chevy
Tahoe traveling in the opposite direction had spun out of control
and come to rest half off the narrow roadway, teetering just above
a drop of more than 500 feet.
Seeing movement inside the vehicle, he turned on
his emergency lights and went to help. The Tahoe's wheels were still
spinning and it looked as though it could go over the mountainside
at any moment. Gompf used his radio to call his dispatcher, who
in turn called for emergency assistance. He then hooked his truck's
winch cable to the SUV to keep it from plummeting down the hill
and into the river below, chocked his wheels and put out safety
triangles to secure the scene. Emergency personnel arrived soon
and were able to get the driver out of the the SUV safely.
 Gompf,
who has been with WM for less than a year, said he never felt nervous
and credits the WM safety training he received for helping him know
what to do.
Learn about more WM Employee Heroes:
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