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Sacramento-Area Man Escapes Crushing Death While Trapped Inside Garbage Truck

WOODLAND, Yolo County (CBS) -- Firefighters are calling it a miracle: A Sacramento-area man became stuck in the back of a garbage truck for hours, while it's compacting trash, and survives.

According to authorities, the man was digging in the dumpster for his lost wallet when the truck came along and scooped him up Tuesday. He was stuck in the truck for three and a half hours, before he was dumped at the Yolo County landfill.

The man told first responders that he used wooden planks to create a pocket around him, so he wouldn't get crushed.

"He described the area that he built around him as a coffin, and those were his words. We're fortunate it didn't turn out to be a coffin," said Lt. Martin Torres of the Yolo County Sheriff's Office.

The truck driver spotted the man when he arrived at the landfill, and rushed out to stop a bulldozer that was about to flatten the garbage pile.

The man was taken to the hospital with only minor injuries.

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