Wrongful death lawsuit filed for Menlo-Atherton High School coach killed by garbage truck

(KRON) — A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of the family of Dylan Taylor, a beloved youth football coach and teaching assistant. Taylor, 30, was struck and killed by a garbage truck May 7 while he was biking to work.

Taylor worked a football coach at Menlo-Atherton High School and a paraeducator at La Entrada Elementary School. He was biking in Atherton toward the elementary school when a white and green GreenWaste Recovery garbage truck turned from Middlefield Road and ran over the bicyclist, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit, filed in San Mateo County Superior Court by attorney Mary Alexander, names both the commercial garbage truck driver and the waste management company as defendants. It alleges that the defendants’ negligence led to Taylor’s death.

“Dylan Taylor was a remarkable educator, coach, and human being who dedicated his life to uplifting young people,” Alexander said. “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.”

The GreenWaste Recovery truck driver was identified as Rogelio Espinosa-Madriz, according to court documents.

The lawsuit alleges that the garbage truck driver made an unsafe turn without yielding to Taylor. It further asserts that the company failed to adequately train the driver and allowed unsafe driving practices.

The garbage truck driver attempted to turn right from Middlefield Road onto Prior Lane when it drove in front of the bicyclist’s path, the lawsuit states.

This allegedly caused Taylor’s bike to collide into passenger side door of the garbage truck. After the coach fell to the ground, Espinosa-Madriz “then drove his garbage truck directly over decedent, causing him to suffer death from significant internal injuries,” the lawsuit states.

GreenWaste Recovery’s truck weighed about 50,000 pounds, according to the suit.

The case highlights concerns about cycling safety in the Bay Area.

“Dylan’s death sent shockwaves through the Menlo-Atherton community and beyond,” said Alexander of the law firm Mary Alexander & Associates. “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.”

The lawsuit demands a jury trial. GreenWaste did not immediately respond to KRON4’s request for comment on the lawsuit.

The victim’s mother said her grief is overwhelming. On Wednesday she said, “We will never be the same. This didn’t have to happen and they’ve torn our family apart. Nothing can bring him back, but GreenWaste needs to be held accountable.”