Madison County Transit and bus driver named in suit by injured passengers

Two Madison County Transit bus passengers and a driver say they sustained injuries after the Madison County Transit bus driver rear-ended a vehicle.

Alphonzo Gordon, Zavonda Murray and Brittany Grant filed a lawsuit Jan. 25 in Madison County Circuit Court against Madison County Transit and bus driver Terry Cook.

Gordon claims he drove on University Park Dr. in Edwardsville on Jan. 29, 2009, when Cook rear-ended him while Murray and Grant rode in the bus Cook drove.

Because of the accident, Gordon, Murray and Grant suffered severe and permanent injuries, became hindered from attending to their usual duties and affairs and lost value of their time, according to the complaint. In addition, they suffered great pain and anguish and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

The plaintiffs blame Cook for the accident, saying he failed to yield the right-of-way to cars traveling in front of him, drove too fast, followed Gordon too closely, drove without adequate brakes, failed to sound his horn to give warning of his approach, failed to see Gordon's vehicle when it easily could be seen and failed to decrease his speed to avoid a collision.

In the 12-count lawsuit, the plaintiffs seek a judgment of more than $450,000.

The Law Office of Warren Danz in Peoria will be representing them.

Madison County County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-70.