March 14, 2026
It's been over 7 months since Ayden passed. Earlier this week a civil litigation was filed against the parties responsible for Ayden's death. That was the only path available for us to seek accountability and change, since the DA's office decided to not press criminal charges against anyone. We wish to highlight what went wrong that day, make our community safer, and honor Ayden's calling - Protect Our City.
Below is the statement that we gave at the press conference and a few related news articles.
Parents of Burlingame 4-year-old Killed in Crash Sue City, Young Driver | KQED
Parents Xiaoming Fang and Ting Ting Liu alleged that the San Mateo County city created and failed to remedy a dangerous condition on public ground.
Parents of 4-year-old killed in Burlingame 'chain reaction' crash sue city, driver, e-bike rider's parents - ABC7 San Francisco
Two months after the San Mateo County District Attorney's office declined to file criminal charges against the 19-year-old driver who crashed and killed 4-year-old Ayden Fang, his parents are seeking justice.
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/sanfrancisco/news/burlingame-child-killed-crash-wrongful-death-lawsuit/
OUR STATEMENT
Our son Ayden was only 4 and half years old when he was killed. Not only was Ayden cheated of his years, his sibling was also robbed of a loving brother and best friend. My wife and I were denied the sacred right of watching a son blossom through his childhood, teenage, and adult years. Our lives as we knew them are shattered.
We are left only with an opportunity to honor Ayden’s life and spirit by doing good in his name. We have chosen to do a number of things, creating scholarships, placing a little free library, and at the top of that list is taking action to prevent at least 1 other family from having to suffer what most therapists and grief experts refer to as “the worst loss.”
Nothing can bring Ayden back! Nothing can lessen the pain of missing his hugs, kisses, and acts of kindness. By taking the action we are here to tell you today, we are hoping to create several opportunities. First, the opportunity to prevent other families from experiencing the same unspeakable and excruciating suffering that we will for the rest of our time. Second, the opportunity for our community to help each other, to become safer for our children. Third, the opportunity for our elected officials to make much-needed changes that will protect their constituents, protect their own families. And last, an opportunity for those responsible for Ayden’s death to take accountability and redemption by making a significant sacrifice from their own lives.
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office decided to not press charges against the driver or any other party involved in our son’s death. They decided not to hold anyone accountable. This has left us with civil litigation as the only path for achieving any measure of justice, for enforcing these responsible parties to take accountability in their part of an avoidable collision and the death of our son.
By holding the City of Burlingame, the driver, the driver’s parents, and the ebiker’s parents accountable, by making them face consequences, we wish to expose broken regulations and infrastructure, improve pedestrian safety, and make our community safe for other families.
We also urge our elected officials at both the local and state levels to take action, now. Whether it’s fixing dangerous road conditions with no delay, implementing and enforcing e-bike laws, or holding the DMV accountable for keeping reckless drivers off our streets. We should not and cannot let another family suffer again.
Today, we seek justice for our son, his little brother, and our family. Today, we present an opportunity to make changes, which also came in a clear message from Ayden himself, who just 2 days before he died asked in his Lego tower to “Protect Our City.”
On behalf of our family and the community, we are grateful for everyone to work together to transform suffering, honor Ayden’s legacy, and effect positive changes