ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — There’s still no word on the condition of a recycling collector in St. John’s who was hit by a vehicle in St. John’s Thursday.
Wayne Skinner — affectionately known as the “Guv’nor of Georgetown” —was struck on MacDonald Drive, west of Torbay Road, just before noon.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says the 63-year-old was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Officers spoke with the operator of the grey Hyundai Elantra involved in the collision, and are now looking for witnesses and anyone who may have dash camera or CCTV footage.
Skinner’s sister-in-law, Elsie, posted on Facebook Friday, thanking people who reached out with well wishes. She said he was on a ventilator at the time and was feeling anxious, but she was assured he was resting comfortably.
The extent of injuries is not known.
To all of Wayne Skinner’s family and friends who love and are worried for him...He is still in stable condition as...
Posted by Elsie Skinner on Sunday, May 3, 2020
Skinner, known for his over-sized shopping cart designed for him by Engineering students, lived in the Hayward Avenue area until recently, when he moved to the east end closer to the recycling depot.
Contacted Saturday, his friend Karen Noel said she was very concerned for his welfare.
“I hope he’s doing better than what he was when he first went there because it was a little bit touch and go there,” she said. “He was in serious condition.”
Noel said Skinner is well-liked and very friendly with the people he collects from.
“He’d help anybody out, I must say. That’s just the type he was since I met him, and that was years ago when he lived on Hayward Avenue.”
That was when he got his nickname.
“He was well known for hanging out by the Georgetown Pub and collecting all the recyclables,” she said. “He’s good as gold, I must say.”
Noel said he still shows up in the neighbourhood.
“You’ll see him anywhere,” she said, but added that manouevring around town after Snowmageddon was very hard on him.
Skinner was briefly in the news in March when his cart went missing. It showed up again a short time later.
The RNC request anyone with information on the incident to call 729-8000, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can now provide information anonymously on the NL Crime Stoppers Website at nlcrimestoppers.com.
Peter Jackson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering health care for The Telegram.
