“They physically picked her up with that claw, squeezed her, compressed her, and dropped her,” alleges Tyrah Adams' family attorney, Stephanie Rivas
Credit: Family Handout
NEED TO KNOW
- Tyrah Adams died after being picked up by a garbage truck’s grappler claw in Louisville, Kentucky, on Feb. 12
- Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg alleges that the crew were unable to see Adams among the garbage during their routine alley cleanup
- Adams’ sister, Sandra Akers, said that the 35-year-old had been unhoused and struggling with substance use disorder when the incident occurred
A Kentucky woman is dead after being crushed by a garbage truck's grappler claw.
Tyrah Adams, 35, was grabbed by a hydraulic grappler claw while employees from Louisville Solid Waste Management were cleaning an alley in the 2500 block of Cedar Street shortly after 9 a.m. on Feb 12, local outlets WAVE, WDRB and Louisville Public Media reported. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg alleged in a Feb. 16 press conference, per WDRB, that the crew didn’t see Adams as she was hidden “in some of this garbage that was picked up and moved to another location.”
"While she did leave the scene of where the garbage was then put down, she ultimately died and that is certainly a tragic loss," he continued. "It appears to be a tragic accident to lose someone in our city in this way."
Credit: Family Handout
The mayor stated that there is currently no evidence of wrongdoing. However, the LMPD Public Integrity Unit is leading an ongoing investigation and the two employees involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
“Louisville Metro Public Works and its Solid Waste Management team are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of an individual following an incident that occurred while team members were conducting routine alley cleanup in the 2500 block of Cedar Street,” Louisville Metro Public Works said in a statement, per WAVE.
“This type of work is performed hundreds of times each day as part of regular operations. Consistent with standard protocol, the employees involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation," the statement concluded.
Following the incident, Adams’ sister, Sandra Akers, told the Louisville Public Media that her sister had been unhoused and struggling with substance use disorder when she was tragically killed.
“She was only 35,” Akers told the outlet. “This happening has taken that chance from her to be able to rebuild her life.”
“I definitely think there is wrong in what has happened, you know, wrong is wrong,” she added. “I want some answers and I want the city to be more aware of what they’re doing and who they’re around.”
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Credit: Family Handout
On Wednesday, April 8, the Jefferson County Coroner confirmed that Adams died from blunt force and compressional trauma from the garbage truck, per WAVE.
Akers has joined Adams' family attorney, Stephanie Rivas, in expressing plans to take legal action against the Metro Government.
“She didn’t walk into this truck,” Rivas alleged to the outlet. “They physically picked her up with that claw, squeezed her, compressed her, and dropped her. And left her there to find her own help.”
According to a police report obtained by WAVE, a video captured the moment the operator got off the crane, looked at the pile of trash he had just set down and returned to his seat. Moments later, Adams is seen getting up from the alley before going to a nearby store and collapsing in the doorway.
The police report also stated that there were only two 911 calls following the incident — one from the store clerk and one from a customer.
“Knowing that they didn’t help her at all — that’s where most of my anger comes from,” Akers said of the garbage workers, per WAVE. “Knowing what he had did and what he saw, he didn’t even have the decency to just help.”
“It’s just like being punched in the gut every single time something new comes out. But at the same time, it’s a relief that something more is being seen,” Akers continued of the ongoing investigations. “Being able to finally feel like her soul is at rest. That’s what I mostly look forward to — for all of our family to be able to breathe.”
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