Passenger on out-of-control bus sues Madison County Transit

A passenger on a bus that crashed into a Collinsville home says he was severely injured in the collision.

Michael A. Watt filed a lawsuit on Dec. 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against Madison County Mass Transit, Daniel Floyd Sr. and Agency for Community Transit.

Watt says he was a passenger on a bus operated by Floyd on Dec. 12, 2009. He says the bus driver lost control of the 2004 Ford Econoline as it traveled eastbound on St. Louis Road in Collinsville. Watt says the bus veered off the road, hit a utility pole, crossed a parking lot through a chain link fence and crashed into a home injuring Watt.

In his suit, Watt seeks damages against the driver and MCMT and the agency which employed Floyd.

Watt blames Floyd for failing to keep the vehicle under control, not reducing his speed, operating the bus while impaired, changing lanes improperly and failing to drive the bus in a reasonably safe manner.

His complaint adds that the two municipal agencies for which Floyd drove failed to prevent him from operating the bus in an impaired condition and did not adequately protect the public's welfare by monitoring its drivers

Watt says he was severly injured in the collision, suffering permanent internal and external conditions. He claims pain and anguish and significant medical expenses.and lost wages.

In his complaint, Watt seeks damages of more than $50,000 plus costs n each of three counts.

Two other lawsuits are pending in Madison County over the same incident.

Patrick G. Johnston of Johnston Law Offices is representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-1236.