Cyclist, 30, Died In Collision With Atherton Garbage Truck By Middlefield Road and Prior Lane
ATHERTON, CALIFORNIA (May 13, 2025) – A 30-year-old bicyclist has tragically died in an Atherton garbage truck accident near the intersection of Middlefield Road and Prior Lane.
San Mateo County officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:40 AM on Wednesday. The cyclist was traveling southbound in the bike lane on Prior Lane.
A garbage truck was traveling southbound on Middlefield Road and made a right turn into the path of the cyclist. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
He was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. But he did not survive and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities later identified him as a beloved football coach at Menlo-Atherton High School.
The driver of the garbage truck remained at the scene and cooperated with police. It remains unclear if any citations will be issued for the deadly collision.
Liability for San Mateo County Garbage Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks can weigh tens of thousands of pounds and can be uniquely dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists. According to the IIHS, “Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles underriding trucks in crashes.” Truck drivers should take a number of measures in order to avoid hitting pedestrians and cyclists.
- Blind Spots: Truck drivers should check their blind spots before changing lanes or making turns.
- Reduced Speed: Truck drivers should reduce their speed in areas that have heavy pedestrian traffic.
- Regulations: Truck drivers should follow all federal regulations related to work hours.
- Maintenance: Truck drivers should ensure that their vehicles are periodically inspected and well maintained.
Commercial truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and must operate their vehicles with a great deal of care in order to avoid accidents. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21717, the driver of any vehicle attempting to cross a bicycle lane must first merge into the bicycle lane and only proceed if the movement can be made with reasonable safety. If a garbage truck driver turns into the path of a cyclist and collides with them, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Liability for any garbage truck accident could extend beyond an at-fault driver. As a general principle, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their workers–insofar as those workers were operating within the course and scope of their job duties. This could include situations where a garbage truck driver was on a scheduled route to pick up trash. Garbage trucks can be particularly dangerous to cyclists for many different reasons.
- Unlike most other commercial trucks, garbage trucks routinely travel through residential areas where pedestrians are likely to be walking.
- Garbage trucks tend to operate in the early morning hours when pedestrians and cyclists may be less visible.
- Garbage trucks have a high ground clearance, which can lead to pedestrians and cyclists being pulled underneath the vehicle.
The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are entirely preventable. They tend to involve situations where drivers are not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of them. These drivers may be distracted by their phones or other objects. Unfortunately, truck companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their drivers causes a fatal collision. This is why it is so important that all truck accidents are properly investigated by an outside party.
Investigating Atherton Garbage Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the family of the cyclist killed in this Atherton garbage truck accident. Any person that may have more information should reach out to the Atherton Police Department. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that other tragedies can be averted. Many questions remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about an Atherton garbage truck accident? Our team of bicycle safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping accident victims understand their rights and holding negligent drivers accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we may be able to assist you. You can contact us anytime at 949-727-9300.
