Man, who was sleeping in dumpster in north Spokane, rescued from garbage truck

A City of Spokane garbage truck driver heard screaming from the inside of his truck Monday morning and discovered a man trapped inside the enclosed cargo box.

The man had been sleeping in a commercial dumpster in the Northpointe Plaza when the dumpster was unloaded into the back of a garbage truck, according to the Spokane Fire Department.

The driver immediately stopped the truck and called for help at about 9 a.m. Firefighters were able to ensure the tailgate and hopper were open to provide air circulation before extricating the victim.

Within 10 minutes of arriving on scene in the 9700 block of North Newport Highway, fire crews were able to remove the man and ready him for transport, according to the fire department.

The victim suffered several traumatic injuries but more information on his condition was not available, the fire department said.