CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The family of a middle school student killed in a school bus crash last week has filed a lawsuit against the Clarksville Montgomery County School System and the bus driver.
The incident occurred on March 27 on Highway 70 in Carroll County, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to several others. Video footage shows the school bus crossing the double yellow line and colliding with a Tennessee Department of Transportation truck, which subsequently caught fire before the bus crashed into a tree.
John and Jessica Davis, parents of 17-year-old Zoe Davis, are seeking damages for negligence, claiming that the bus driver, Sabrina R. Ducksworth, was fatigued, distracted, and not attentive while driving. The Davis family expressed their heartbreak and desire for accountability in a statement, emphasizing the need to prevent similar tragedies.
Authorities are investigating the crash, with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and National Transportation Safety Board involved in determining the cause. The lawsuit alleges that CMCSS was negligent in its hiring and training processes for Ducksworth. A school spokesperson stated that Ducksworth had no prior disciplinary actions on record and that the system is cooperating with investigations.
The Davis family is pursuing a jury trial for damages, which are capped at $5 million under Tennessee law for non-economic claims. CMCSS has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
This is a developing story; further updates will be provided as information becomes available.