Ari Green: City of San Jose streetlight electrician fell from a bucket truck after a box truck struck it at Narvaez Avenue
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA (August 25, 2026): A 50-year-old City of San Jose Department of Transportation electrician died after a box truck collided with the city bucket truck he was working from at Hillsdale Avenue and Narvaez Avenue at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, according to NBC Bay Area. The worker was identified as Ari Green, 50, according to KTVU. Green was in the elevated bucket repairing a streetlight when the collision occurred, causing him to fall and suffer life-threatening injuries, NBC Bay Area reported. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police said the box truck driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
KTVU reported that Green’s crew typically repaired 50 to 100 streetlights a month damaged by copper-wire theft. City officials said in a joint statement that a member of the City of San Jose family lost his life while serving the community, and urged drivers to slow down near work zones, according to NBC Bay Area. San Jose Police and Cal/OSHA are both investigating, KTVU reported. Mayor Matt Mahan said the city would honor Green’s memory while completing an investigation that may give the city options to make the work site safer. The cause of the collision, the speed of the box truck and the traffic control around the bucket truck have not been released.
Liability for Santa Clara County Work Zone Crashes
Labor Code § 3600 (workers’ compensation coverage) makes the City of San Jose responsible for death benefits regardless of fault, and Labor Code § 4700 to § 4702 (death benefits and burial expenses for dependents) set what the city must pay. Because workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against the employer, the family’s civil claim would be directed at third parties under Labor Code § 3852 (third-party claims), beginning with the box truck driver and the company that owned or operated the truck. California Vehicle Code § 21367 (work zone traffic control) requires drivers to obey the cones, signs and warning lights that protect a roadside crew, and Vehicle Code § 22362 (work zone speed) applies where workers are present. The driver stayed and cooperated, no arrest has been reported, and fault has not been determined.
- Driver attention and speed: A bucket truck with its boom raised is a large, visible object. Investigators will examine whether the driver was distracted, speeding or following too closely.
- Commercial vehicle ownership: If the box truck was being driven for a business, that company may be liable for its driver’s negligence and typically carries a larger commercial policy.
- Work zone protection: Cal/OSHA and the city will review whether cones, arrow boards, a shadow vehicle or a lane closure were in place around the bucket truck.
- Fall protection and equipment: Whether Green was wearing a harness, whether the outriggers were deployed, and whether the boom or bucket failed may point to equipment or training issues.
Workers’ compensation death benefits are paid to a dependent spouse, children and other relatives who relied on Green’s income, and include burial expenses plus installment payments that, depending on the number of total dependents, can reach $320,000. Public employees may also have separate pension or survivor benefits. Those payments do not compensate grief or loss of companionship. A wrongful death lawsuit against the box truck driver and any responsible company can recover those losses along with lost financial support, and the workers’ compensation carrier may seek reimbursement from that recovery.
Steps to Take After a Santa Clara County Work Zone Crash
According to the Federal Highway Administration, hundreds of people die in work zone crashes in the United States each year, and rear-end collisions with slowed or stopped vehicles are the most common type.
- Obtain the San Jose Police collision report: It will identify the box truck, its owner and insurer, witness statements and any camera footage from the intersection.
- Start the workers’ compensation death claim: Notify the City of San Jose’s risk management office in writing so burial expenses and dependent benefits begin promptly.
- Request the Cal/OSHA file: When the investigation closes, the findings will describe the traffic control and fall protection in place.
- Preserve the vehicles and data: Send preservation letters for the box truck’s event data recorder, dash camera and driver logs, and for the city bucket truck.
- Identify all insurance: Confirm the box truck’s commercial policy limits and review the family’s own auto policies for underinsured motorist coverage.
Under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, a wrongful death lawsuit against the box truck driver and its owner generally must be filed within two years of the death, and under Labor Code § 5405, the workers’ compensation death claim generally must be filed within one year. If a public entity other than the employer is alleged to share responsibility, for example for the design of the roadway, a government claim must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating Santa Clara County Work Zone Crashes
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ari Green. What traffic control was in place around the bucket truck on Hillsdale Avenue, and was a shadow vehicle or lane closure protecting the crew from approaching traffic? Why did the box truck driver fail to see or avoid a raised bucket truck in daylight, and was the driver working for a company at the time?
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job or in a work zone anywhere in California, our workers’ compensation and personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on September 16, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on August 25, 2026.
