Staten Island Sanitation Worker Dies at 48 on Duty; One of Two Fatalities in NYC on Same Day

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. —

Michael Biuso, assigned to Staten Island, was one of two city Sanitation workers who died from medical issues on the same day while on duty, according to officials.

Biuso, 48, who served the city as a Sanitation worker since 2000, suffered a medical episode in the vicinity of Manila Avenue and Roberts Drive while working in Oakwood Beach on Tuesday evening around 6:25 p.m., according to sources.

He was assigned to the Staten Island District Garage 3 in Travis.

The borough resident is survived by his wife, Cara, and three children.

‘Darkest days in memory’

Earlier that same day, Sanitation worker Nelvern Samuel passed away on the job in Queens.

Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences Tuesday while visiting the Queens District Garage 4 where Samuel died.

“My heart goes out to the [Sanitation] family after the deaths of two of their own this week,” the mayor posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Nelvern Samuel and Michael Biuso both died from natural causes while in the line of duty, and their memories will forever live on as part of New York’s Strongest.”

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Medical issues led to the deaths of both men, according to a Sanitation post on X.

“Yesterday was one of the darkest days in memory for the Department, as we experienced the tragedy of two separate line-of-duty deaths,” Sanitation said in a post on X.

“Sanitation Workers perform difficult, often dangerous work, keeping our city clean, safe and healthy,” said a statement issued to the media by Sanitation. “We mourn the loss of Sanitation Workers Samuel and Biuso, both of whom dedicated their lives to serving our city.”

Samuel joined the department as an enforcement agent in 2014 and assumed the title of worker in 2023.

“These men chose to dedicate their lives to serving our City, and New York’s Strongest will stand shoulder to shoulder with their families as they navigate the days, months, and years ahead,” Sanitation said on X. “They will never be forgotten.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized for Biuso and Samuel.

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