Mahoning County Developmental Disability board sued for 2007 accident

YOUNGSTOWN — The guardian of a passenger, who was reportedly permanently injured in a Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities vehicle, has filed a lawsuit against the board and its driver, Melissa Colonna, and Allstate Insurance Co.

Sherry Watson of Alliance, guardian of Lana Vogus, in her lawsuit claims that Vogus, who was the passenger, suffered injuries to her hip, head, ribs, collarbone and other parts of her body in the Nov. 20, 2007, accident at Alliance-Sebring and Bandy roads in Smith Township, due to Colonna’s negligence.

The suit, which demands a jury trial and damages in excess of $25,000, was filed today in common pleas court and assigned to Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.

Allstate’s policy covers the vehicle Vogus occupied, which was struck by an unnamed uninsured or underinsured driver, the suit said. The board’s lawyer, Christopher Sammarone, did not respond to a request for comment.