San Antonio Man Needed City's Help to File Damage Claim After Garbage Truck Incident

Alfredo Morfin had video proof of a city waste truck using his driveway, but struggled to get the city to address the damage until KENS 5 got involved.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:39am

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In June 2023, Alfredo Morfin came home to find a section of his driveway cracked and caved in. His neighbor's security camera footage showed a large City of San Antonio solid waste truck using Morfin's driveway and his neighbor's yard to make a 3-point turn, likely because construction was blocking the street. Morfin tried to file a claim with the city at the time, but it went unresolved. After calling KENS 5 for help, the city looked into the issue and assisted Morfin in starting a new damage claim.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges some residents face in getting the city to address property damage caused by municipal vehicles, even when they have clear video evidence. It also raises questions about the city's policies around solid waste truck operations and the use of residential driveways.

The details

The security camera footage showed the large city waste truck using Morfin's driveway and his neighbor's yard to make a 3-point turn, likely because construction was blocking the street at the time. Morfin said he tried to call the city about the issue and filed a police report, but the city did not come out to inspect the driveway and the claim just died. After KENS 5 reached out to the city, the Solid Waste Management department quickly looked into the issue, found no previous claim on file, and assisted Morfin in starting a new damage claim.

  • In June 2023, Morfin found the damage to his driveway.
  • Morfin's neighbor had security camera footage of the incident at the time.
  • Morfin tried to file a claim with the city in 2023, but it went unresolved.
  • Morfin called KENS 5 for help in 2026.
  • The city assisted Morfin in starting a new damage claim in 2026.

The players

Alfredo Morfin

A San Antonio resident who had damage to his driveway caused by a city waste truck using his property.

City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department

The municipal department responsible for the city's solid waste collection operations.

Marcus Lee

The Marketing Manager for the City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department.

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What they’re saying

“He looked at the camera and he said, 'oh it's a garbage truck!'”

— Alfredo Morfin

“In this case, a City review found that Mr. Morfin did not file a claim with Risk Management. The City has contacted him to assist with creating his claim.”

— Marcus Lee, Marketing Manager, City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department

What’s next

An insurance adjuster is scheduled to visit Morfin's property to assess the damage caused by the city waste truck.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of residents having clear evidence, such as video footage, when trying to hold the city accountable for property damage caused by municipal vehicles. It also underscores the need for better communication and responsiveness from the city when residents file damage claims.