Family Blames Teen's 'Avoidable' Death 2 Years After Deadly Accident.

The family of a 14-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in a collision involving a city garbage truck is criticizing what they describe as "inadequate hiring practices" on the anniversary of the devastating incident. Collin Jacob Liston passed away on Jan. 2, 2024, after the City of Titusville truck struck his dirt bike at the intersection of North Dixie Avenue and Georgia Avenue, leading to a fatal outcome. Despite a formal investigation attributing fault to the driver, Collin's family issued a statement last Friday asserting that his death could have been prevented and was a result of broader failures within city systems. The family pointed to "insufficient hiring procedures, subpar maintenance of municipal equipment, and negligent driving" as contributing factors to the tragic loss of a teenager. They accused the Titusville Police Department of lacking thoroughness in their investigation, claiming that evidence collection was incomplete and inadequately documented. According to investigative records, the driver involved, Marcus Latravious Hoper Sr., had accumulated seven prior convictions related to driving with a suspended or revoked license. On the day of the accident, Hoper was operating a vehicle with a malfunctioning rear camera and had failed to activate amber warning lights. Additionally, law enforcement discovered a THC vape pen on the truck's seat. Hoper stated to authorities that he had been using a side-mounted camera intended for monitoring garbage bins instead of the designated backup camera. He received a citation for improper backing resulting in a fatality, a consequence the family deemed as insufficient. Beyond criticizing the handling of the case by legal authorities, the family expressed doubts about the thoroughness of the attorney general's review of the evidence when the possibility of pressing criminal charges was discussed. They conveyed disappointment with the city's lack of acknowledgment of accountability for their employee's actions and the perceived inadequacies in the investigative process. The City of Titusville terminated Hoper on Jan. 19, 2024, for breaches of personnel policies. While a civil lawsuit has been resolved, the State Attorney's office has refrained from pursuing criminal charges in this matter.