Garbage Truck Operated by WIN Waste Innovations Ran Over Santos Ortiz, Woman in Lowell Near South Street and Pearl Street
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS (December 6, 2025) – A male pedestrian identified as Santos Ortiz has tragically died in a Lowell garbage truck accident on Spring Street.
Middlesex County officials are saying that the accident took place around 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday. A trash truck operated by WIN Waste Innovations was backing up along Spring Street when it ran over a person later identified as Santos Ortiz.
He became trapped underneath the garbage truck. Paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim.
Firefighters were able to lift the truck off the victim and extricate him. Despite life-saving measures, Santos Ortiz died due to the severe nature of his injuries.
A woman was also injured in the crash and taken to the hospital.
Liability for Lowell Garbage Truck Accidents
Garbage truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial license. They are expected to exercise a great deal of caution to avoid any person on the roadway. Pursuant to Massachusetts Vehicle Code 720 CMR 9.08(3), the driver of any vehicle intending to back up, stop, or turn from a direct line must first ascertain that this movement can be made with reasonable safety. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 14, drivers are required to slow down upon encountering any pedestrian in the roadway. There are many ways that the driver of a garbage truck may have acted negligently.
- Blind Spots: A driver may have failed to check their blind spots before turning at an intersection or backing up their vehicle.
- Speed: A driver may have been operating a vehicle at an unsafe speed. Even driving the speed limit could be considered dangerous depending on the prevailing road conditions.
- Spotter: A driver may have failed to exit their vehicle or use a spotter if they could not see what’s behind them as they were backing up.
Garbage trucks can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians. Unlike many other commercial trucks, they tend to operate in dense urban areas where pedestrians congregate. One of the clearest steps that garbage truck companies can take to prevent collisions is to install backup cameras and alarms on all of their vehicles. This can help alert drivers to potential hazards before it’s too late. If a garbage truck driver fails to use caution to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Commercial Liability for Garbage Truck Accidents
Several factors could contribute to garbage truck collisions. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions.” There could be several sources of liability for any garbage truck accident.
- Garbage Truck Company: When a garbage truck driver acts negligent and runs over a pedestrian, their employer could be held at fault. As a general rule, employers in Massachusetts can be held vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their workers who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties.
- Vehicle Manufacturer: The company that manufactured a garbage truck could potentially be liable for a collision. This may be the case when critical safety features on a garbage truck malfunctioned and contributed to a pedestrian collision.
- Municipal Entity: A municipality could be liable for a garbage truck accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition on public property. This may include situations where a road has an obstructed line of sight.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any garbage truck collision. Victims may be seriously injured and be saddled with high medical bills. To make matters worse, garbage truck companies will virtually never accept responsibility when their drivers cause accidents. In many situations, they may claim the accidents were unforeseeable. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated by experienced legal counsel.
Investigating Lowell Garbage Truck Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Santos Ortiz. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies may be prevented. Many questions remain unanswered at this time.
Do you need more information about a Lowell garbage truck accident? Our team of Boston truck accident attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding truck companies accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.