SAN MATEO COUNTY — The family of an Atherton teacher and football coach who died after being hit by a garbage truck while riding his bike to work has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck’s driver and the waste management company who employed him, lawyers said.
The lawsuit on behalf of the family of Dylan Taylor was filed Wednesday in San Mateo County Superior Court by attorney Mary Alexander, according to a news release.
“Dylan Taylor was a remarkable educator, coach, and human being who dedicated his life to uplifting young people,” Alexander said in a press release. “He was riding his bike in a designated bike lane, on his way to serve his students, when his life was cut short by a careless driver and a company that failed to put proper safety procedures in place. This was not an accident, rather it was a preventable tragedy, and his family deserves justice.”
On May 7, Taylor was riding his bike in the bike lane near the intersection of Middlefield Road and Prior Lane in Atherton when he was hit by a garbage truck making a right turn. He was pronounced deceased after being taken to a hospital. Taylor was a freshman football coach at Menlo-Atherton High School and a special education paraeducator at La Entrada School.
The lawsuit alleges that the negligence of the defendants led to Taylor’s death and caused irreparable harm to his family, according to the press release. They say that the driver of the truck did not yield to Taylor and made an unsafe turn.
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The lawsuit further alleges that Greenwaste Recovery, LLC, the waste management company, did not provide sufficient training to the driver, and that they allowed for unsafe driving in high-traffic pedestrian areas near schools, according to the release. The case alleges that because they had a duty of care to properly train and supervise their drivers, they were negligent in allowing this driver on the road, according to court filings.
The driver of the truck was found to be at fault for the collision by California Highway Patrol, according to court filings. The lawsuit alleges that the waste management drivers have a legal duty to “exercise reasonable care” to prevent accidents, but that the driver acted “negligently and recklessly.”
“Dylan’s death sent shockwaves through the Menlo-Atherton community and beyond,” Alexander said in a press release. “He was a fixture in the lives of countless students and families. This lawsuit is about honoring his legacy and sending a clear message: companies that operate dangerous vehicles in our neighborhoods must be held accountable when they put lives at risk.”
This is a developing report. Check back for updates.