Harris County man killed by hit-and-run garbage truck, police say

Homicide detectives were dispatched to the 10800 block of White Oak Point Court. Homicide detectives were dispatched to the 10800 block of White Oak Point Court. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Harris County man killed by hit-and-run garbage truck, police say 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

An 64-year-old Cypress man was killed outside his home Saturday when a garbage truck backed over him and then fled, authorities said.

The driver of the three-person crew is cooperating with law enforcement, according to Deputy Thomas Gilliland of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The case is being investigated by the homicide unit.

A witness reported about 4:30 p.m. that the man and had been carrying a bag of palm leaves to the curb when the truck passed by without stopping. The man called out to the driver to stop. The driver stopped the truck and backed up over the man, whose body was found in the middle of the two-lane street. The driver then fled, according to Gilliland.

Police were planning to review surveillance footage from the area near the corner of White Oak Point Court and White Oak Glen Court to determine whether the driver intentionally hit him, the sheriff's spokesman said.

Investigators were conducting interviews with the crew members and contacted headquarters of the private waste management company, which routinely services the subdivision.

"What we’re still trying to figure out is what happened, as far as the male not moving out of the way," Gilliland said. “It’s too early… we can’t tell if it was intentional or very tragic at this point.”

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.