Utility workers in busy cities are often forced to temporarily close roads to get essential work done, and while it can frustrate drivers in the moment, those disruptions are usually necessary to keep infrastructure safe and functioning. A situation like this reportedly unfolded recently in New York City, where a utility worker and a driver were caught on video in a heated argument after a truck blocked the roadway. The footage is currently circulating online.
The clip was shared by NYC-based utility worker and Instagram user @giusse718.2, who often posts candid videos from his job and life in the city. Approaching him is a driver in a blue raincoat and creme chinos, who is angry about his truck blocking the road. “You couldn’t put that over here?” the irate driver exclaims, pointing toward the sidewalk and referring to the utility worker’s truck. The utility worker, however, claims that he can’t hear the driver’s pleas. In response, the man replies, “You’re gonna hear me in a minute when I put you in the [expletive] emergency room.“
The worker fires back, “Back the [expletive] up! Get the [expletive] out of my [expletive] face! Get out of my [expletive] face! You want it? I shut the street! Get the [expletive] out of my face right now! You’ll put me in an emergency room?” Angrily, the driver replies with something that sounds like, “They’re [expletive] gonna put extra holes in you! You can put the [expletive] truck over here!“
As the driver holds his phone, the utility worker yells, “Back off! Alright, I’ll put you down right now, bro!” before adding, “I got cones on the corner!” This seemingly placates the driver, as he calls the worker a “scumbag” before walking away, ending the video.
As the footage spreads online, social media users flocked to the comments to share their reaction to the heated argument. Over on Reddit, one user joked about the pair’s thick New York accents, writing, “Gee, I wonder if this was in NYC.” while another added, “It’s got to be so stressful to exist like this.” A third penned, “It’s so funny when they can’t win so immediately go on their phone—-it just screams “I’m telling mom!!!”” Meanwhile, over on Instagram, one netizen declared, “This is how we say good morning in NYC 😂” while another chimed in with, “He backed off pretty quick when you met his energy“.
