Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga, 69, of Santa Ana, Died in Trash Truck Accident Near Shelton Street and Bishop Street
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA (November 20, 2025) – A 69-year-old woman identified as Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga Has tragically died in a Santa Ana garbage truck accident by the intersection of Shelton Street and Bishop Street.
Orange County officials are saying that the accident took place shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga was crossing the street when she was hit by a garbage truck making a right turn at the roundabout.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. Sadly, Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga was beyond medical aid and pronounced dead by arriving paramedics.
The Santa Ana Police Department is asking any person that may have witnessed the crash to reach out to their traffic division. A full investigation into the deadly trash truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Santa Ana Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial license. They are expected to operate with an abundance of caution to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 21950, “The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.” There are many ways that a driver may have failed to avoid a pedestrian accident.
- Blind Spots: A truck driver may have failed to check their blind spots before making a turn at an intersection.
- Speed: A truck driver may have failed to reduce their speed when they were in close proximity with a pedestrian.
- Distractions: A truck driver may have been distracted by their phone or some other electronic device.
- Fatigue: A truck driver may have failed to get adequate rest before the start of their shift.
If a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, this may be construed as negligence. Negligence is the failure to act with the level of care necessary to avoid causing harm or loss to another person. The vast majority of trash truck accidents are preventable. They tend to involve drivers that are younger and less experienced. Depending on the facts of any case, there could be several liable parties for any truck accident.
Third-Party Liability for Garbage Truck Accidents
Many people are killed or seriously injured every year in accidents with buses and other commercial vehicles. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “There was a 34-percent decrease in the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses between 2005 and 2009, followed by an increase of 25 percent between 2016 and 2022. From 2021 to 2022, the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses increased by 2 percent.” A truck accident may involve liability on multiple parties.
- Truck Owner: The company that owned or operated a commercial truck could have some liability for a collision. According to California Vehicle Code 17150, “Every owner of a motor vehicle is liable and responsible for death or injury to person or property resulting from a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of the motor vehicle, in the business of the owner or otherwise, by any person using or operating the same with the permission, express or implied, of the owner.”
- Business Owner: A business owner could also potentially be liable for a truck collision. As a general rule, employers within the state of California can be liable for the wrongful actions of their workers who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties. This can include situations where a garbage truck was traveling on an official route and picking up waste.
- Municipal Entity: A public entity like the state of California or a county within the state could potentially be liable for a truck accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition on public property. This may include situations where an intersection had an obstructed line of sight that prevented drivers from being able to clearly see a pedestrian heading into their path.
Garbage truck accidents are often highly preventable. Private companies tend to have a worse safety record than those of their public counterparts. It is fairly common for private employers to push drivers to complete routes as quickly as possible. This endangers everyone on the road. Unfortunately, garbage truck companies will virtually never admit fault if they cause an accident. It is important for victims to understand that they do have legal rights. These rights extend to the surviving family members of any person killed in a crash. They are able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Santa Ana Garbage Truck Accidents
We at Carrazco Law 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. What was the speed of the garbage truck prior to the crash? Is there a history of collisions at this intersection?
Do you need more information about a Santa Ana garbage truck accident? We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that truck companies are held fully accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular accident, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se habla español.
