Family sues trash company

Kim Smith

Thursday, June 22, 2000 | 11:32 a.m.

The mother and guardians of a 6-year-old boy killed by a Republic Silver State recycling truck in April have filed a negligence suit against the waste disposal company.

Twila Aline Williams, John Templeton Williams and Jennifer Gillies filed the lawsuit on behalf of Zachary Sutton-Riley Gillies' estate in District Court Tuesday. Also named in the suit was Republic Silver State Disposal employee Dale Hursh.

"As a direct and proximate result of the defendants' negligence and failure to use due care, Zachary Sutton-Riley Gillies suffered fatal injuries," the lawsuit states.

The family is suing for unspecified damages for loss of companionship, extreme grief and sorrow and for the "intense physical and mental pain, disfigurement, shock and agony" felt by the boy before he died. They also want to be awarded funeral expenses.

According to police, the boy was riding his bicycle with a friend where Clarkson and Welsh Circle meet when he rode into the rear of the recycling truck as the driver was backing up into the Welsh Circle cul-de-sac.

At the time of the accident, Metro Police Detective Doug Nutton said, the truck's warning lights were flashing and it's beeping reverse alarm system was working.

"We will be looking at the video from the truck's rear cameras, but this was definitely an accident," Nutton said.

Attempts to reach Silver State were unsuccessful.