BELLEVILLE — A man is suing Bi-State Development Agency alleging his wife died after her wheelchair overturned while riding a public bus.
Norris Wiggins, individually and as administrator of the estate of Margaret L. Wiggins, deceased, filed a complaint on Jan. 2 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Bi-State Development Agency, alleging it breached its duty to exercise reasonable care to protect its passengers.
According to the complaint, Wiggins alleges that on three separate occasions—July 22, 2017, May 14, 2018 and July 8, 2018—Margaret Wiggins was in a wheelchair and a passenger on the defendant's bus when her wheelchair overturned. She suffered multiple injuries, including a blood clot that ultimately led to her death on July 9, 2018.
The plaintiff holds Bi-State Development Agency responsible because its employees allegedly failed to properly secure the decedent's wheelchair with the device installed in the bus, and the bus driver negligently drove the bus at a speed that was too fast.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendant for a fair and reasonable amount exceeding $50,000, plus costs. He is represented by William L. Berry of William Berry & Associates, LLC in Collinsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 19-L-0004