Our Employees

Each day, our more than 200 employees in North County work together to ensure your waste and recycling needs are met. We are proud of their hard work and want to share news about their accomplishments - check back to this page regularly to get to know some of our great employees.

  Cristian Rivas, Commercial and Residential Driver

  It’s tough to say what might have happened had Coast Waste   Management driver Cristian Rivas not sounded his horn at a boy   about to run into oncoming traffic – but because he did, a potentially   horrific accident was avoided.

On the afternoon of May 17, 2006, Rivas, a commercial and residential driver, was stopped at a red light in front of an elementary school in the city of Escondido. A group of boys was crossing the street in front of him. After the boys finished crossing the street, Rivas noticed another boy on the opposite side of the street who was running to catch up with his friends.

By the time the boy came to the crossing, the light for oncoming traffic had turned green. Apparently not noticing this, the boy started to run across to the other side. Rivas blew hard on his truck’s horn in an attempt to stop the boy, as well as oncoming traffic.

The boy heard the horn, turned and ran back to the sidewalk. “No sooner had the boy turned back, did a Ford Mustang traveling about 40-45 miles per hour, with the driver on a cell phone, drive through the intersection,” said Michael Crawford, safety manager for the San Diego/Orange County Market Area.

Rivas, who has been with Waste Management almost one year, and Chris Gutierrez, a relief driver who was with Rivas to learn his route for an upcoming vacation, warned the boy about crossing the street on a red light – and received “thumb’s up” from drivers in the surrounding vehicles.

“We’re very proud of Cristian’s foresight and quick actions to keep those around him safe and prevent a likely tragedy,” said Ken Ryan, district manager. “The community is lucky Cristian was at that place at that time and aware of what was going on around him, so he could help keep this little boy safe.”