The mother of a boy hit by an Eatonville school bus and dragged more than 80 feet three years ago is suing the school district and the bus driver, alleging their negligence resulted in her son’s injuries.
Autumn Landen does not state a damage amount in her lawsuit, which was filed earlier this month in Pierce County Superior Court. She sought $1.1 million in a claim she filed with the district in September.
Her son, who was 14 when hit in January 2009, suffered severe head injuries and numerous bone fractures, among other injuries, the claim states. Some of the injuries will dog him for the rest of his life, the lawsuit contends.
Eatonville superintendent Rich Stewart declined this week to comment on the lawsuit. Efforts to reach driver Catherine Howard were unsuccessful.
A bus driven by Howard hit the boy as he walked across Center Street. Howard had just turned left onto Center from Washington Avenue.
The district placed Howard on leave after the wreck, but she’s been reinstated and continues to drive school buses for the district, Stewart said.
The intersection of Center and Washington has been the scene of at least three collisions between vehicles and pedestrians in recent years, and Eatonville town leaders are exploring options for improving safety there.
Center approaches Washington – a segment of state Route 161 – at an angle, which affects visibility.
Mayor Ray Harper said the town has secured a grant from the Puget Sound Regional Council to redesign the intersection and hopes to get construction funding next year to make improvements.
“It’s a hard intersection,” Harper said.
Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644
adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
Twitter: @TNTadam
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