Exploding toilet sends Ridgewood sanitation worker to hospital

A dropped toilet exploded, driving pieces of porcelain into veteran Ridgewood sanitation worker collecting refuse on South Broad Street.

Jerry DeMarco

06/19/2012 1:40 a.m.

Damien Hamlin (top, from behind)
PHOTOS by Boyd A. Loving for CLIFFVIEW PILOT

Damien Hamlin was taken by ambulance to The Valley Hospital nearby for treatment of a severe leg wound, including more than 30 stitches. His condition was unknown.

The toilet exploded after slipping from Hamlin’s hands.

Responding to the 11:30 a.m. accident were Ridgewood police, fire and EMS.

Hamlin was one of three village sanitation workers honored four years ago for extinguishing a residential fire.

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