Student's parents sue bus company
University to finish current contract with Chippewa Trails, will consider NTSB report before resigning
DJ Slater
Issue date: 11/14/05 Section: Campus News
The parents of senior Branden Atherton are seeking compensation for all injuries and damages they have suffered from various companies involved in their son's death, according to their lawsuit.
James and Patti Atherton filed a lawsuit in the Chippewa County Circuit Court last week in response to their son's death as a result of a Chippewa Trails bus accident on Oct. 16. Both declined to comment.
Atherton and five others were killed when the Chippewa Trails coach bus carrying them and 44 Chippewa Falls High School band members collided with an overturned semi at 2 a.m. five miles west of Osseo.
According to the lawsuit, the Athertons are suing Whole Foods Market Group, Inc., semi driver Michael J. Kozlowski, and Chippewa Trails, Inc and their respective insurance companies.
UW-Eau Claire uses Chippewa Trails as its transportation provider for numerous organizations, such as music and athletics, said Steve Slind, the university's purchasing agent. Currently, Chippewa Trails has a contract with the university until June 30, 2006.
Whether the university remains with Chippewa Trails could depend on what the National Transportation Safety Board and the Wisconsin State Patrol find in their reports. Slind, however, could not give a firm answer on whether the university would stay with the company pending the reports' findings.
"We are paying attention to that," he said. "We need to have some hard facts before we can make decisions."
Other than the accident, Slind said the university hasn't had any other service problems with Chippewa Trails.
After the accident, Kurt Nelson, Chippewa Trails safety director, said the state did a Level 5 (the highest) inspection of all 12 of their coach buses.
James and Patti Atherton filed a lawsuit in the Chippewa County Circuit Court last week in response to their son's death as a result of a Chippewa Trails bus accident on Oct. 16. Both declined to comment.
| "We need to have some hard facts before we can make decisions." -Steve Slind Purchasing agent |
Atherton and five others were killed when the Chippewa Trails coach bus carrying them and 44 Chippewa Falls High School band members collided with an overturned semi at 2 a.m. five miles west of Osseo.
According to the lawsuit, the Athertons are suing Whole Foods Market Group, Inc., semi driver Michael J. Kozlowski, and Chippewa Trails, Inc and their respective insurance companies.
UW-Eau Claire uses Chippewa Trails as its transportation provider for numerous organizations, such as music and athletics, said Steve Slind, the university's purchasing agent. Currently, Chippewa Trails has a contract with the university until June 30, 2006.
Whether the university remains with Chippewa Trails could depend on what the National Transportation Safety Board and the Wisconsin State Patrol find in their reports. Slind, however, could not give a firm answer on whether the university would stay with the company pending the reports' findings.
"We are paying attention to that," he said. "We need to have some hard facts before we can make decisions."
Other than the accident, Slind said the university hasn't had any other service problems with Chippewa Trails.
After the accident, Kurt Nelson, Chippewa Trails safety director, said the state did a Level 5 (the highest) inspection of all 12 of their coach buses.
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