Mentorship and Tragedy: How One Fatal 1995 Accident Shaped Safety and Leadership in the Ridgewood DPW
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Keeping the Memory Alive: The 1995 Accident That Changed Ridgewood’s DPW
Ridgewood NJ, thirty years ago, on November 7, 1995, the Village of Ridgewood lost one of its own in a tragic on-duty accident. Sanitation worker Ronald Fisher, 37, a Paterson resident who had worked for the Department of Public Works (DPW) for just two years, was killed while collecting trash on Godwin Avenue when a driver, blinded by sun glare, rammed into the sanitation truck.
Fisher was pinned between the vehicle and the truck, sustaining grievous injuries that led to his death the following day.
For the Village of Ridgewood, and particularly for those who worked alongside him, the tragedy remains a defining moment. For Sean Hamlin, who was a 24-year-old part-time laborer at the time and now serves as the village’s Sanitation Supervisor, Fisher was more than a coworker—he was a selfless friend and mentor.
Supervisor Sean Hamlin: “He was that kind of selfless person, the voice of calm, always staring adversity in the face.”
The Mentor’s Wisdom: A Lasting Impact on the Department
Fisher’s legacy is not just one of loss, but of lasting, practical wisdom. Just a week before the fatal crash, Fisher had a heart-to-heart with a frustrated Hamlin, assuring him that hard work and pride would lead to a full-time position.
Hamlin took that advice to heart and now, as the Sanitation Supervisor, he passes on the small, valuable lessons Fisher taught him about serving the community:
-
“You’re on private property. Put the lid back on the garbage can after you empty it.“
-
“People will see you and stop to talk. Be courteous, do the job, and do it well. It shows.“
These small acts of respect and professionalism helped Hamlin connect with residents, who once showered him with so many baby gifts upon the birth of his first child that he needed multiple trips to carry them all.
Safety First: How One Tragedy Spurred Change
After Fisher’s death, Hamlin rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the Sanitation Supervisor in 2019. He inherited a young staff and immediately put his mentor’s spirit into action to prevent a repeat tragedy:
-
Banning Earbuds: Hamlin immediately mandated that earbuds be removed on the job. “You can’t hear what’s going on around you with earbuds, and you have to keep your head on swivels, get to know the dangers of the job.”
-
Adjusting Routes: He also adjusted pickup scheduling to avoid high-risk periods of sun glare on roads based on the time of day and road direction.
Hamlin’s caution was recently validated during a reported rear-end collision. Though he feared the worst when he arrived, he found the employee unharmed—the worker had heard the car’s brakes and managed to jump out of the way just in time. He was able to hear the car’s brakes.
Honoring a Community Servant
Ronald Fisher’s commitment and mentorship were formally honored by the Village Council on the 30th anniversary of his death (November 12th). Fisher’s wife, Ama, and daughter Melissa were in attendance.
Mayor Paul Vagianos praised Fisher’s impact: “He was a mentor to one of the finest members of our staff, Sean Hamlin… We will be forever grateful to Ron, who lives on in the work ethic and leadership of Sean.”
A tree planted at the original accident site, which had to be removed this year, will be replaced next spring. The ceremony will also include the dedication of a plaque in Fisher’s name at the Department of Public Works station, ensuring his memory endures.
As Supervisor Hamlin says, “Our teammates are like our second family.”
Stay updated on state and national news that affects you. From politics to policy, from culture to current affairs, our eBlast will keep you well-informed . http://eepurl.com/bgt6T #RidgewoodBlog #News #LocalNews #StateNews #NationalNews #Subscribe #StayInformed #Community
I don’t remember this story….I remember the shooting at the post office a few years earlier…
I can’t believe from that day when the accident occurred there was never signs put up along that location of God when having you about sun glare. The village should take that in into consideration certain locations throughout the village where Son glare is really powerful at times this should be assigned to avoid accidents. I was an employee at the time and I was working right around the corner when that occurrence happened. That was a terrible day.