School bus driver sues WeGo for alleged negligence in August head-on crash
Six people, including three children, were hurt in the crash
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A charter school bus driver has filed a $1 million lawsuit against WeGo, Davidson Transit Organization and a WeGo bus driver for negligence during an August head-on bus crash.
In the lawsuit, Keyontae McEwen claims WeGo and its bus driver, Tyler Henning, were responsible for a WeGo bus crashing head-on into a school bus she was driving.
McEwen said she was driving in her lane, but Henning crossed the center line and crashed into the bus, violating several traffic laws. The entire incident was captured on the school bus cameras.
“These drivers are held to a higher standard than your everyday driver,” attorney Isaac Kimes said. “She is still very shaken up by this. When you are a driver of school children, and you have to take evasive action by slowing down your vehicle rapidly, then you get hit head-on. Anyone who watches this video is going to understand that this is something that you cannot easily let go.”
McEwen was critically injured in the crash, breaking several bones and receiving a traumatic brain injury. Eleven children were on the bus, three of whom were also injured.
Kimes said McEwen filed the lawsuit to help cover her medical costs and force WeGo to make changes to ensure a crash like this will not happen again to another driver.
McEwen claims in the lawsuit that WeGo is also responsible for not properly training Henning. It also said he fell asleep at the wheel and veered over into oncoming traffic.
WeGo said it won’t comment about pending legal matters. Metro Police said the crash investigation is still ongoing.
NDOT has completed its own review of the crash as part of the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries. Over the next couple of weeks, NDOT crews will be installing a number of new safety measures along this section of Elm Hill Pike.
Drivers can expect to find a speed feedback sign to show drivers how fast they’re going, additional signage and a centerline rumble strip.
Read the full lawsuit below:
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