A dump truck driver in Rockland County learned the hard way that illegal dumping can backfire after his truck sank into the mud soon after unloading debris at a residential site, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said.

The incident happened on Thursday, Jan. 30, when Environmental Conservation Officers responded to a complaint about five tri-axle dump trucks actively dumping solid waste at a residential property in Haverstraw, the DEC said.

When officers arrived, only two trucks remained, including one that had become stuck in the mud after dumping its load. An investigation revealed that both trucks had come from the same demolition site and were transporting a mixture of soil, plastic, lumber, concrete, and polystyrene -- materials that require proper waste disposal.

Authorities ticketed both the driver and the company owner for multiple violations, including the illegal disposal of solid waste and transporting regulated waste without a permit.

The DEC did not disclose the name of the company involved.