Maria from 'Rock of Love Bus.'
Foppe
Fritz
A personal injury suit involving an equipment driver for the "Rock of Love Bus" series televised on MTV and VH-1 has settled in St. Clair County for $16 million.
The agreement was reached with defendant 51 Minds Entertainment, a Hollywood production company, in August, according to attorney Patrick Foppe in a phone interview today.
Foppe and Kevin Fritz of Lashly & Baer in St. Louis represented William and Colleen Wiley of Tallahassee, Fla. in a case originally filed Dec. 23, 2008, against MTV, VH-1 Music First, 51 Minds Entertainment and equipment driver Dennis Hernandez.
The Wileys were injured Sept. 26, 2008 on I-57 near West Frankfurt after Hernandez lost control of his southbound vehicle, which crossed the median into the northbound lanes striking the Wileys' vehicle. He had fallen asleep while driving a "Rock of Love Bus" full of equipment.
Hernandez did not have a valid driver's license and tested positive for marijuana use after the accident, Foppe said.
"After a lengthy extrication with the 'jaws of life,' Plaintiffs were airlifted to an emergency medical facility," the Wileys' suit stated.
Colleen Wiley suffered multiple severe injuries, including loss of consciousness, hypotension and cardiac arrest six times with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and subsequent intubation.
She also suffered injuries to her shoulders, back, neck, chest, pelvis, legs, knees and hands, according to their complaint.
William Wiley also suffered multiple severe injuries including sternal fracture with associated anterior mediastinal hematoma, minimally displaced seventh rib fracture, lung contusion, contusions over the right frontoparietal region of his head, avulsion fracture of the left triquetrum and nondisplace, intraarticular fracture of left radial syloid, the suit stated.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 08-L-659.