BUFFALO, N.Y — The City of Buffalo employee who was fatally struck and killed on McKinley Parkway on Nov. 23 has been identified as Michael L. Muscarella. Mayor Byron Brown said he was a "very experienced employee with decades on the job."

"We are heartbroken. We are in pain right now having suffered this loss," Mayor Brown said. "This is a very painful thing to have to report. Our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers go out to the family members of our lost co-worker."

At approximately 11:15 a.m., during snow removal operations, a high loader truck was dumping a load of snow into a dump truck, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia explained. "It appears at this point in the investigation, while in reverse, fatally struck the worker," he said.

Officials say the accident involved a third party contractor retained by the city to assist with the snow removal effort.

As a result of the accident, the City of Buffalo will be suspending further snow removal operations at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Mayor Brown said. The City of Buffalo Department of Public Works says operations will resume on Friday at 7 a.m.

"We know there is tremendous grief in the workforce right now, working up to 16 hour shifts on very little sleep," Mayor Brown said.

Muscarella was 67-years-old.