Megabus sued over bad weather I-55 crash

A woman has filed suit against the bus company whose bus she claims she was riding in when it crashed into a ditch due to unsafe driving conditions on the road.

Debra Donze filed suit April 21 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Megabus USA LLC, Coach USA Inc. and Jane Doe.

According to the complaint, Donze was riding on a bus owned by defendants Megabus and Coach on Dec. 20, 2012, when it crashed into a ditch beside Interstate 55.

Just before the accident, the bus driver, a defendant identified only as Jane Doe, had been told Interstate 55 was being shut down due to weather conditions, according to the complaint. However, she disregarded the warning and proceeded to drive on it anyway, the suit states.

Because of the collision, Donze suffered injuries to her cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Donze blames the bus driver for causing the collision, saying she negligently failed to keep the bus in a single lane, failed to drive at a proper speed, failed to reduce her speed, failed to keep a proper lookout and failed to keep the bus on the road, among other negligent actions.

Donze is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just. She is being represented by Megan D. Andrews of Powers Law Firm in St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-300.