The parents of a 4-year-old boy who was fatally struck in a crash in Burlingame last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, alleging that preventable safety hazards contributed to the tragedy.
The child, Ayden Fang, was killed outside a downtown restaurant area, and his family says the city failed to address known visibility concerns near a driveway where the collision occurred.
Fighting back tears, Ayden’s father spoke about the devastating loss that continues to weigh on the family.
“He was cheated out of his future. His little brother lost not just a sibling, but a lifelong best friend,” said Xiaoming Fang.
According to the legal complaint, a 19-year-old woman driving an SUV was attempting to exit a parking lot on Donnelly Avenue when she collided with an 11-year-old riding an e-bike carrying his 10-year-old sister. The lawsuit claims the driver then accelerated instead of braking, mounted the curb, and struck Ayden, who was standing on the sidewalk.
“My wife and I were robbed of watching Ayden grow into his teenage years and adulthood,” Fang said.
The lawsuit argues that a parking space positioned near the driveway created obstructed sightlines for vehicles attempting to exit the lot. Attorneys for the family claim the city was aware of the dangerous configuration but did not remove the parking spot until after the fatal crash.
“Vehicles were allowed to park right up to the driveway’s edge, limiting visibility for drivers pulling out,” said family attorney Niall McCarthy.
In addition to the city, the lawsuit names the SUV driver, her parents—who owned the vehicle—and the parents of the e-bike rider as defendants.
Ayden’s parents say the lawsuit is not only about accountability, but also about pushing for meaningful safety improvements to protect pedestrians.
“We have to look at why these tragedies happen and make real changes so they don’t happen again,” McCarthy said.
Ayden’s mother, Ting Ting Liu, held a LEGO creation her son had built just days before the incident, calling it a painful reminder of the life cut short.
“We want to honor Ayden’s memory by turning our grief into positive change,” she said.
San Mateo County prosecutors previously declined to file criminal charges against the SUV driver, citing insufficient evidence to pursue a vehicular manslaughter case.
City officials have not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit.
