Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Double-Decker Bus Accident
The family of one of the men who fatally struck his head on an overpass while standing on the top level of a double-decker bus has filed an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit. Cameron Chana was 22.
The tragic Illinois bus accident happened on May 30 as a group traveled from Lake Shelbyville back to Eastern Illinois University. Chana, a Hinsdale Central graduate, was traveling with them.
He and 22-year-old Justin Sleezer struck their heads on the same overpass as the bus was driving under Interstate 57 on Illinois Route 16 outside Mattoon. The two men died from their traumatic head injuries.
According to the Coles County, Illinois wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Lori and Robert Chana, the defendants failed to supervise the behavior of passengers riding on the second level of the bus, neglected to take a different route that did not include the overpass, did not inform bus drivers about the dangers associated with certain bus routes, and did not properly train the bus drivers.
The Chanas' Chicago wrongful death lawyer also has pointed out that bus driver John F. Protz must have known that the overpass was a hazard because he drove a different route on the way to the lake. The Chicago injury attorney said that even though the bus had signs warning passengers not to stand when riding on the top level, the bus driver should have taken steps to ensure that people heeded the warning.
The Illinois wrongful death defendants include Protz, bus company Lincoln Springs Resort LLC, bus owner Graywood Enterprises. Inc., company owner Augustine G. Oruwari, and The Graywood Foundation.
While this type of bus accident might sound unusual or unexpected, this is not the first time anyone has died from getting struck by an overpass while riding a double-decker bus. In 2008, two men suffered traumatic head injuries during an overpass bus accident in the Washington DC area.
Getting struck in the head by a heavy or hard object can be fatal—especially when the impact occurs at a fast speed and the victim has no protection from the collision. Bus drivers and bus companies must ensure that their passengers do not do anything that could cause injury to themselves or others while on the bus.
Lawsuit filed in double-decker bus death, Pioneer Local, October 14, 2009
2nd Victim In Open-Top Bus Accident In D.C. Dies, The Washington Post, July 13, 2009
Two men die in Mattoon, Illinois bus accident after their heads strike an Interstate Highway 57 overpass, Chicago Injury Attorney Blog, June 2, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Brain Injury Association of America
