The individuals who operated the city garbage truck that killed homeless woman Tyrah Adams Feb. 12 will not face criminal charges, a May 7 letter from the Jefferson County Attorney's Office indicated.
Because guilt could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt, prosecutors decided not to file charges, Josh Abner, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Attorney's Office, confirmed Aug. 8.
"Our office concluded there was not a reasonable likelihood of conviction on any criminal charge," he added.
Adams, 35, was picked up and dropped by a the hydraulic claw of a Louisville Metro Department of Public Works garbage truck near the intersection of South 26th Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville's Russell neighborhood, sustaining injuries that eventually killed her after she was transported to the hospital. Mayor Craig Greenberg said Adams was "in" the garbage the truck picked up, and he called her death a "tragic accident," according to previous reporting.
On Feb. 23, community members gathered to honor Adams and to demand reform of Louisville's safety protocols and of its policies for managing the homeless population.
"Routine should never mean relaxed standards when life is even a remote possibility. If there had been a clearly written inspection policy, if there had been a documented verification procedure, if protection of living beings had been the required first step, we wouldn't be standing here today," said Jeff Gill, founder of Hip Hop Cares, an organization that helped host the event. "We can accept this as a tragic accident and move on, or we can acknowledge that when safeguards are missing, tragedy becomes predictable."
Since the incident, Adams' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Louisville Metro Government. The complaint, filed May 20, said Adams' death was "horrific and preventable."
The suit alleged Adams was picked up by the truck's claw mechanism, which attorney Stephanie Rivas argued poses "severe dangers" that are recognized in Louisville Metro Public Works' policy. Rivas went on to say the employees "knew or should have known" it was possible there would be an unhoused person in the pile based on where it was located and that it was their responsibility to maintain a proper lookout while they operated the grapple loader.
Sandra Akers, Adams' sister, previously told The Courier Journal that after Adams was dropped by the truck, she independently sought help by walking to a convenience store near the alley before later dying at UofL Hospital. According to the lawsuit, the employees operating the truck did not call emergency services, nor did they offer Adams any help.
In the lawsuit, Rivas requested the plaintiffs representing Adams' estate receive damages that make up for burial costs, attorney costs and all other relief entitled under Kentucky's wrongful death law.
An internal investigation, as well as Adams' family's lawsuit, remain ongoing.
Reporters Killian Baarlaer, Lillian Metzmeier and Caroline Neal contributed. Reach breaking news reporter Ruby Grisin at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Garbage truck operators will not face charges following death of homeless woman