The parents of a high school girl who was injured after a charter bus drove into the woods on her way to music camp, killing two people, are now suing her Long Island school district, alleging that the chartered bus company has a history of safety violations have.
Parents Kimberley and Corey Ellis have filed a legal notice with the Farmingdale School District regarding the hiring of Nesconset-based Regency Transportation LTD.
The company has committed several federal security violations and was recently on the “unacceptable operators” list.
According to the New York Post, the parents are seeking $10 million for their daughter’s injuries, which include broken ribs, lung damage, head wounds and disfigurement.
They are also seeking $2 million in damages for themselves and that the district cover the cost of their daughter’s medical and psychological care.
Kimberley and Corey Ellis have filed a lawsuit against the Farmingdale School District for negligent hiring of a bus company that they say has a history of safety violations
The parents are seeking $10 million for their daughter’s injuries, which include broken ribs, lung damage, head wounds and disfigurement
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says the bus company has been cited for 25 violations since 2021. This year alone, the company has failed five inspections.
Violations include broken bus emergency exits, inoperable brake lights, inoperable headlights, and oil and grease leaks.
Jared Cooper, who represents the family, told The Post: “The school has a responsibility to act when the students are in their care, and they have failed to do that.”
He also said the school was “negligent” in failing to tell parents that the bus company had been placed on New York State’s list of unacceptable operators and that it had failed to ensure the bus was “safe and proper.” be.
Cooper alleged that the student transportation bus company was “significantly” underinsured and did not have sufficient insurance to cover all claims.
The Farmingdale School District told various media outlets that it cannot comment on pending litigation. Regency Transportation LTD officials said they were not aware of Web.com and did not want to participate.
All that was filed was a notice of default, which is a necessary step when suing a public entity. A lawsuit will soon be filed against the school and the bus company.
The accident occurred when a bus overturned 10 miles from the nearest exit on the two-lane highway near the Orange County town of Wawayanda.
It led a convoy of six buses carrying a total of 300 students, mostly ninth graders, from Farmingdale High School in Nassau County to the marching band camp music event at Pine Forest in Greeley, Pennsylvania.
The bus left the busy road about 75 miles northwest of New York City and plunged down an embankment before ending up on its side in the woods.
Two people died after the bus veered off the busy road about 75 miles northwest of New York City and plunged down an embankment before ending up on its side in the woods
Gina Pellettiere, 43, and Beatrice Ferrari, 77, were confirmed as the two educators killed in the accident
Two teachers died: Gina Pellettiere, 43, and Beatrice Ferrari, 77, and six were injured.
Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, confirmed the deaths and described it as “a day of terror” for the 44 people – four adults and 40 students – on board.
She said all 44 people on board were freed from the wreckage within 45 minutes.
The injured were taken to Westchester County Medical Center or Garnet Health Medical Center in Wallkill, with two Medivac helicopters assisting in rescue efforts.
Anthony Eugenio, a student, was on the bus and remembered it rolling several times before coming to a stop.
He called his family and said he was a little under the weather.
“He said he was really in pain.” He has a big bump on his leg. “He has someone else’s blood on his pants,” his father said.
“The person next to him was covered in blood.”
The tumbling bus crushed trees and bushes as it plunged down the slope
To reach the passengers, ladders were raised to the overturned bus
Anthony had to borrow a friend’s phone because he lost his in the accident.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” his father said.
“When you get messages like that and your son is two and a half hours away, it’s pretty scary.”
The bus bore the logo of Regency Luxury Charter Bus Company of Smithtown, New York, and was about 100 miles en route to the annual four-day weekend camp when the accident occurred.
The cause of the crash is still unknown and the National Transportation Safety Board said it was monitoring the accident.
The September band camp trip is an annual tradition at the school, which has 1,700 students.
The event includes members of the marching band, color guard and kickline team, as well as adult chaperones.