City employee struck, killed in Racine

A Racine employee died Dec. 14 after he was pinned between a car and a city recycling truck. City official said that Mark D. Gates was rushed from the scene via ambulance to Ascension All Saints Hospital, then flown by Fight for Life helicopter to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. Mayor John Dickert’s office confirmed Gates’ death in a news release sent Wednesday evening.

“We received official word that our colleague, Mark Gates, died this afternoon from injuries sustained after having been struck by a speeding vehicle while collecting recyclables as part of his job,” the release states. “Mark was a highly respected and dedicated employee as well as a deeply faithful and caring pastor, and he will be missed by all who knew him.”

According to an article by The Journal Times, the crash occurred at about 9:50 a.m. in the right-hand, westbound lane of Washington Avenue between Illinois and Oregon streets.

“Joenathan Gholston of Racine, who witnessed the crash, said he was traveling west on Washington when he saw the Ford Mustang going at a rate he estimated at 50 mph to 60 mph, weaving back and forth between both lanes just before crashing into the recycling truck,” the article reads. “The crash occurred just a few blocks west of the intersection of Lathrop and Washington.”

Gholston told The Journal Times he got out of his car quickly to render aid, which is when he found Gates pinned at waist level between the two vehicles.

“I parked my car and I asked if I could help,” Gholston said. “They said it was Gates. I came around and I grabbed his hand and I told him to squeeze my hand because his hand was out. I told him, ‘Mark, squeeze my hand,’ and I told him to keep breathing, keep breathing, and then he stopped. I said, ‘Keep breathing, keep breathing,’ and it was like he stopped for a few seconds, and all of a sudden I could see barely a little steam because of the cold.”

State police traffic investigators were called to investigate the crash.