KNOXVILLE (WATE) – One lawsuit is in the works and another three have already been filed after last December’s deadly school bus crash in Knox County.
The Knoxville Police Department said Friday James Davenport, the driver of a Knox County school bus that crashed into another bus, killing three, was distracted due to sending and receiving text messages.Extended coverage: Previous stories on fatal Knox County bus crash
The bus Davenport was driving served over a concrete median, crashing into the side of bus #57 from Sunnyview Primary School. Zykia Burns, 6, and Seraya Glasper, 7, both students at Sunnyview Primary School were killed in the crash, and teacher’s aide Kimberly Riddle, 46.
Davenport died of natural causes on Monday according to Knox County Sheriff’s Office, but they are still waiting for autopsy results.Previous story: Knoxville police: Driver in deadly Knox County bus crash was texting
Attorney Greg Isaacs, who is representing the Riddle and Glasper families, said in a statement Friday afternoon that his firm is planning to file a wrongful death suit in the crash:
The investigative information provided by the Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol and the National Transportation Safety Board will enable our firm to file a detailed wrongful death suit on behalf of the respective families in the very near future. In addition to the issue of distracted driving, the investigation revealed some alarming issues regarding the lack of oversight and supervision of the private school bus contractors that are transporting Knox County school students on a daily basis.
A wrongful death suit on behalf of Seraya Glasper’s father and two suits on behalf of bus driver Joe Gallman and the parents of 6-year-old Sydney Wynn, both of whom were injured in the crash, were filed in April against Davenport and bus contractor Robert Burroughs.
“The case and the whole situation highlights the fact that when you drive and text, something bad can happen. Decisions have consequences,” said Sidney Gilreath, an attorney representing the three.
Wynn’s parents are seeking $1.75 million, Gallman is seeking $1.5 million and Glasper’s father is seeking $3 million. Each is also demanding a jury trial.
“Everybody wishes it hadn’t have happened. We wish they could redo it, but you can’t do that. We just have to let the civil justice system take its course and that’s what it’s there for something like this,” said Gilreath.
Gary Dawson, attorney for Ukennia Arinze, the mother of Burns, released the following statement on Tuesday on behalf of Arinze and Zykia’s twin brother Zyquese:
“There is a constant flow of useful information to the public from print media, television, radio and the internet addressing the dangers associated with texting and driving. Unfortunately, there is a small segment of society that apparently believes the rules do not apply to them. The failure to follow the rules too often results in tragic consequences despite all the education and effort invested in preventing this behavior. The knowledge that these deaths were avoidable and unnecessary serves only to intensify the sadness and pain of Zykia’s family. Ukennia and Zyquese, Zykia’s twin brother, ask that their request for privacy be respected as they mourn the loss of their beloved daughter and sister.”
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Knox County Director of Schools Dr. Jim McIntyre also spoke on whether the bus contractor or the school district should be held responsible for the deaths and injuries.
“It’s really [the contractor’s] responsibility to make sure that they meet all of our expectations including how they manage school bus drivers. And ultimately that’s our responsibility to make sure that the transportation program is delivered in a way that’s safe and efficient and effective for our children,” he said, adding that it wasn’t for him to say if a wrongful death lawsuit would be fair.Read the lawsuits:
