Terrier sucked up and killed by street sweeper in 'freak' accident

Robert Machin said he had just finished walking his two Boston terriers and was about to put them into his car when the truck appeared.

The retired transit worker said he was suddenly whipped around and saw one of the dogs, Ginger, being swallowed by the sweeper's round bristles.

Ginger, the Boston terrier (centre) was swallowed up and killed by a sanitation sweeping truck

'I went berserk at that moment because I couldn't believe what had occurred,' he said Saturday.

Mr Machin said he yelled at the driver to stop, but the truck kept going.

He and friends chased the truck for 2½ blocks before catching up with it. and pulling Ginger's slight body from the sweeper.

The city Department of Sanitation called the death 'a rare and unfortunate accident.'

A heartbroken Mr Machin questioned whether the driver was observing proper procedures, and said the truck 'seemed to barreling through the street at an unsafe speed'.

Mr Machin, 57, choked up as he described losing Ginger. With his children grown up , he said: 'These two dogs, they're my life.'

Ginger's owner said the street sweeper, was 'barrellng down' the road when his dog was caught up in the round bristles of the machine