What to Know
Tyrah Adams was living on the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, before a tragic accident took her life. On February 12, 2026, just before 9 a.m., sanitation workers with Metro Public Works were cleaning up an alley when they allegedly picked up 35-year-old Adams with a hydraulic claw.
Adams reportedly survived the lift but ultimately died from injuries sustained in the accident, according to her family. A newly released video appears to show city employees laughing at Adams and treating her as less than human. Her family sued and now wants justice for Adams.
The workers allegedly didn’t see Adams the day of the accident.
Per WAVE, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called Adams’ death a tragic accident, defending workers who claimed they didn’t see the homeless woman among the trash as they cleared the alley. They reportedly lifted her into the garbage truck and transported her to another location. Emergency responders rushed her to an area hospital for treatment, where she passed away.
“While she did leave the scene of where the garbage was then put down. She ultimately died, and that is certainly a tragic loss,” Greenberg explained.
Louisville Metro Public Works launched an investigation.
According to a statement obtained by WAVE, Louisville Metro Public Works
“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. 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 reads.
Adams family filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
WHAS reported Adams’ family hired Stephanie Rivas to represent them in a wrongful death suit. The attorney reviewed video that, according to her, shows signs of life among the trash in the alley.
“It kind of looks like a piece of cardboard laying there. But, further back, you can see, okay, that looks like someone laying there,” Rivas said. “That looks like blankets. It doesn’t look like bags of trash.”
Adams’ sister, Sandra Akers, told Louisville Public Media that her sister had addiction issues but wanted to get her life back in order before her tragic death. She planned to go into sober living and make big changes.
“She was only 35,” Akers said. “This happening has taken that chance from her to be able to rebuild her life.”
Video of the incident appears to show the workers laughing at Adams.
Footage from the day Adams died obtained by WHAS captured the workers at the scene.
“S–t man, I done f–k around man, and damn near haha, damn near picked up a homeless m—–f—-r over here in a pile,” the equipment operator/driver said.
“Oh, damn. Where you was at?” the manager responded.
The men laugh following the question as if Adams’ life was a joke.
Akers told WHAS the video disgusted her. “They’re mocking the situation. And they thought it was funny.”
The family seeks unspecified damages in the suit.
