San Carlos Sues 7-Year-Old Boy for Worker’s Injuries in Wreck

The City of San Carlos is suing 7-year-old Ryan McDonnell for as much as $13,000, saying he was at fault in a collision of his bicycle and a city truck.

As a result, the San Mateo County Superior Court civil suit claims, truck driver Edward Moody, 23, accumulated medical bills and worker’s compensation because he strained his back while trying to avoid hitting the bike a year ago.

“This is just a shock to me,” said the boy’s mother, Suzan Barber, when she learned about the suit. “I can’t believe this. My husband is so mad he wants to move out.”

“I think it’s pretty stupid for a city to sue a little kid,” said Ryan’s 12-year-old sister, Gennifer. “I didn’t think you were allowed to do that.”

Barber said Wednesday she has witnesses who contend Moody was driving over the 25-m.p.h. speed limit. Moody told police his speed was 18 m.p.h. Barber said Moody’s truck left 20-foot skid marks. The bike was mangled. The truck, police said, lost some paint.

Ryan and his mother were named as defendants. No hearing date has been set.

“If in fact the boy negligently caused an injury to a city worker, there’s every reason for the boy to be liable,” said Robert Whitehead, the city’s self-insurance program administrator. “And if the family has homeowners insurance, that insurance should cover this.”

San Carlos Police Chief Owen McGuigan said his department’s report and the suit allege that Ryan ran his bike from between two parked cars into the street before the collision. The report said Ryan had been preparing to ride home from a neighbor’s house.

The police report said Moody hit the brakes and swerved as the bike slammed into the pickup truck’s door on the passenger side. The boy was treated at a hospital for abrasions.