EspañolMaria Rubalcava de Ruesga, 69, Died in Garbage Truck Crash While Crossing Shelton Street and Bishop Street in Santa Ana
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA (November 22, 2025) – A 69-year-old woman identified as Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga was hit and killed by a trash truck in a residential neighborhood of Santa Ana.
Orange County officials are saying that the collision took place around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga was crossing near Shelton Street and Bishop Street when she was hit by a garbage truck.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim. Sadly, Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga died due to the traumatic nature of her injuries.
The driver of the garbage truck remained at the scene and cooperated with police. A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Liability for Santa Ana Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage truck drivers are required to get a commercial license. They must undergo extensive training and are expected to operate with a great deal of caution to avoid harming pedestrians. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 21950, “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.” There are many ways that a truck driver may have acted negligently and hit a pedestrian.
- A truck driver may have failed to scan the road ahead of them for pedestrians or other hazards.
- A truck driver may have been fatigued.
- A truck driver may have been impaired by alcohol or even medications.
- A truck driver may have failed to slow down in an area with heavy pedestrian traffic.
- A truck driver may not have used their horn to alert pedestrians of their presence.
If a garbage truck driver fails to use caution and hits a pedestrian in the roadway, this may be construed as negligence. Even if a pedestrian is outside of a marked crosswalk, drivers must still exercise due care to avoid hitting them. Liability for a garbage truck accident could extend beyond any driver deemed to be at fault. The private company or municipal entity that a garbage truck driver worked for could also be liable. Generally speaking, employers in California can be liable for the wrongful actions of their workers who are operating within the course and scope of their job duties.
Steps to Take After Santa Ana Garbage Truck Accidents
Far too many pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every year in accidents with trucks. According to National Public Radio, “Vehicles with higher front ends and blunt profiles are 45% more likely to cause fatalities in crashes with pedestrians than smaller cars and trucks, according to new research published Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.” It is important that several actions are taken after any garbage truck accident.
- The police should be called to the scene as soon as possible so that they can begin an investigation.
- Surveillance footage that may capture the collision should be sought.
- It should be understood if there is a history of collisions at the intersection where any crash took place.
- Medical records for related injuries should be gathered.
- Victims and surviving family members should seek the guidance of experienced legal counsel.
Pedestrian accidents are often highly preventable. In many cases, they involve drivers that are simply not paying attention to the road ahead of them. It is also fairly common for garbage truck companies to push their drivers to complete routes as quickly as possible. Drivers may begin to adopt unsafe driving habits. The family of any person who died in a garbage truck accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Santa Ana Garbage Truck Accidents
We at the Carrillo Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Santa Ana Police Department. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time.
Do you need more information about a Santa Ana garbage truck accident? Our team of experienced pedestrian accident investigators is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping accident victims understand their rights and holding negligent drivers fully accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
