Ruben Delgado, 33, of Desert Hot Springs, Died in Riverside County Motorcycle Accident With Trash Truck on Dillon Road West of Prospect Road
SKY VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (November 3, 2025) – A 33-year-old motorcyclist identified as Ruben Delgado has tragically died in a Sky Valley garbage truck accident on Dillon Road by Prospect Road.
Riverside County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:00 PM on Tuesday. Ruben Delgado was riding a Yamaha motorcycle along Dillon Road when a garbage truck made a left turn directly into his path.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. Ruben Delgado was transported to the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs in critical condition.
Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The driver of the trash truck remained at the scene and cooperated with the police. It remains unclear if any charges will be brought against the truck driver involved in the fatal collision.
A full investigation into the Sky Valley garbage truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Sky Valley Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage trucks can be incredibly dangerous for pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles. Many collisions involve drivers that make dangerous left turns. According to California Vehicle Code 21801, the driver of any vehicle intending to make a left turn or to complete a U-turn upon a highway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles that are approaching from the opposite direction that are close enough to pose a hazard at the time of the turning movement. If a truck driver makes a left turn into the path of a motorcycle or other vehicle, this may be considered negligence. Multiple factors could contribute to a garbage truck accident.
- Speed: Garbage truck drivers are often pushed to complete routes as quickly as possible. This can lead to them speeding and engaging in other poor driving habits that make accidents more likely.
- Blind Spots: Garbage trucks have large blind spots all around the vehicle. These can easily obscure pedestrians, motorcycles, and smaller cars. Drivers are supposed to check their blind spots before making turns at intersections, but this does not always happen.
- Inclement Weather: Garbage trucks are difficult to operate in the best of circumstances. Many truck drivers failed to navigate the road during rain and other periods of inclement weather.
- Driver Experience: Younger and less experienced drivers are substantially more likely to make critical mistakes. This is why it is so important that all truck drivers are properly certified and well trained.
When a truck driver acts negligently and turns into the path of another vehicle, liability could extend to the entity that owned or operated the truck. This could be a private company or a municipal entity like a county. In general, employers within the state of California can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their workers who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a garbage truck driver may have been on their way to pick up trash on an official route.
Gathering Evidence After a Riverside County Garbage Truck Accident
A fully loaded garbage truck can weigh tens of thousands of pounds. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 80 fatal collisions involving garbage trucks in 2020 alone. There were another 1,200 crashes that resulted in injury. It is vital that garbage truck accidents are thoroughly investigated. What follows are some of the key pieces of evidence that can help reveal how a garbage truck accident took place.
- Surveillance Footage: Many intersections are covered by traffic cameras. Even if there are traffic cameras in an intersection, local businesses may have security cameras that captured an accident.
- Photos: Even a still photo of the aftermath of an accident can reveal a great deal about how the accident took place. For example, a lack of skid marks in the roadway can demonstrate that one driver did not even attempt to brake to avoid a crash.
- Physical Evidence: Crashed debris, vehicle positioning, and damage patterns can all paint a clear picture of the circumstances leading up to a crash.
- Eyewitnesses: The testimony of eyewitnesses can also be very important to corroborating liability for any garbage truck accident. Any person that may have witnessed the crash should be interviewed as soon as possible while their memories are still fresh.
- Vehicle Inspection: Federal and state law often requires commercial trucks to undergo daily inspection logs. These can help reveal deficiencies that may have contributed to a crash.
The companies that own and operate garbage trucks will virtually never willingly hand over evidence that could incriminate them. This is why it is so important that serious injury collisions are properly investigated by a legal team with subpoena power. It is important for the victims of garbage truck accidents and their surviving family members to understand that they do have legal options. Family members of any person killed in a collision may be able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60.
Investigating Riverside County Garbage Truck Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ruben Delgado. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. When was the last time the garbage truck was inspected? What is the safety record of the company that owned this garbage truck? Is there a history of collisions on Dillon Road by Prospect Road?
Do you need more information about a Sky Valley garbage truck accident? Our team of garbage truck accident investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their legal rights and that negligent drivers are held fully accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or would like a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
