Warren woman’s suit alleges school bus driver caused accident
There was no contact between the bus and the other vehicle, the schools superintendent said.
STAFF REPORT
WARREN — A city woman has filed a lawsuit against the Bristol School District and one of its bus drivers over an accident the woman says a school bus driver caused on Painesville Warren State Road in Farmington Township last year.
Tomica R. Leonard, of Fifth Street Southwest, filed the suit in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, naming as defendants the school district and Teresa D. Klima of South Park Road, West Farmington.
The suit says Leonard was a passenger in a vehicle traveling southeast on the county road when the accident occurred.
The suit doesn’t describe the accident, but Atty. Mark S. Gervelis of Canfield, who filed the suit, said the bus Klima was driving stopped at a stop sign at the intersection with Ensign Road and then proceeded into the path of the other vehicle, which had no stop sign and didn’t have to stop.
The vehicle in which Leonard was riding then tried to avoid the bus and went into a ditch, Gervelis said.
Leonard suffered head, neck, back and other injuries from the accident, the suit said. She seeks more than $25,000 in compensation.
It says the school district negligently entrusted its motor vehicle to Klima.
Dr. Marty Santillo, Bristol superintendent, said he had not seen the lawsuit and would refer it to the school district’s attorney when it arrives. He said there was no contact between the two vehicles, but he had no other comment.