A homeless Kentucky woman sleeping in an alley was fatally crushed by a garbage truck and her family is preparing a lawsuit

In Kentucky, a woman named Tyrah Adams, 35, was killed after a Metro solid waste truck picked her up and crushed her on Feb. 12. Now, Adams’ family has filed a lawsuit, arguing that the way her death was initially reported by the city raised suspicions it may have been meant to obscure key details from the public.

On the morning of Feb. 12, Adams was asleep in an alley on Cedar Street in Louisville. She was known to frequent the area at that time of day, according to people familiar with the neighborhood. Still, the waste crew cleared the alley with no acknowledgment of her presence.

The garbage truck’s grappler claw picked her up and crushed her. A later police report from the Louisville Metro Police Department revealed that the grappler operator got off the crane, looked at the scene — and then simply left. No 911 call was made, a detail that would later become highly relevant.

According to Fox13, Adams’ attorney, Stephanie Rivas, said, “The LMPD Public Integrity Unit has not yet completed their investigation as to this incident and specifically, as to whether or not the employees will be charged. We do know there is video surveillance, but we haven’t been able to view the videos since the investigation is ongoing.”

What is currently available are witness statements and coroner reports. According to a witness, Adams initially got up after being crushed by the truck, then walked to a nearby store and collapsed outside. The store owner and a customer immediately called 911.

It’s worth noting that the city initially described the incident as Adams having “come into contact” with the garbage truck. That phrasing was later revealed to be a significant euphemism, as the Jefferson County coroner confirmed she died from “blunt force and compressional trauma.”

There is, inevitably, the prospect of a substantial payout when someone sues the government. But according to Adams’ sister, Sandra Akers, money is not the family’s primary concern. Akers said, “Knowing that they didn’t help her at all — that’s where most of my anger comes from. Knowing what he had done and what he saw, he didn’t even have the decency to just help. We’ve been given bits and pieces of information. There’s a lot more to see — the videos that they’ve obtained. We don’t have access to those. 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.”

Adams was homeless, and debates in America are often rife over whether people in that position are treated fairly. Her family is now asking for justice — the same standard anyone else would expect. For their part, the city has placed the two employees involved on administrative leave as the investigation remains active and authorities continue to search for answers.

Akers told the media they simply want this entire saga behind them so the family can finally lay Adams to rest in peace.