NATIONAL COALITION OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY NEWS 2005
Another Lawsuit Filed In
Siloam
Springs
School Bus
Wreck
September 2005
BENTONVILLE
An 11th lawsuit was filed in Benton County Circuit Court in connection with
a 2003 Siloam Springs school bus accident in which several students were
injured and one was killed.
Fayetteville
attorney Mark Martin filed the suit Wednesday on behalf of Rebecca Price,
the mother of 14-yearold Jeffrey Ray Price, who was a passenger on the bus.
Thomas Built Buses Inc. and Merl’s Bus Sales are named as defendants.
The
accident occurred May 19, 2003, when the bus with 44 students aboard ran off
Arkansas Highway 16 near the Illinois River. The bus went down an
embankment, then landed on its side.
Jessica Price, 14, was killed in the accident. Meng Vang, 10, was paralyzed
as a result of injuries he suffered in the crash. Jeffrey Price is the
younger brother of Jessica Price.
Ten
suits, including ones on behalf of Jessica Price and Vang, already have been
filed seeking damages from bus manufacturers.
Thomas
was responsible for the design and construction of the school-bus passenger
coach. Merl’s was the dealer/distributor that sold the bus to the Siloam
Springs School District.
The
suit claims the companies were negligent because they manufactured a
defective design that did not include seat belts.
The
lawsuits seek unspecified monetary damages for pain and suffering, emotional
distress, anxiety, permanent injuries and disability, medical
Expenses and punitive damages.
The
latest suit was assigned to Circuit Judge David Clinger. A jury trial in the
case is scheduled to begin June 13.
The
other suits were assigned to Circuit Judge Jay Finch.
By
Tracy M. Neal Copyright© 2001-2004 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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