Families file lawsuits in 2014 fatal bus crash

July 21--The families of a student and teacher's aide killed in the Dec. 2, 2014, bus crash on Asheville Highway have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Knox County Schools, the drivers of both buses involved and the bus contractors.

In their lawsuits filed Monday, Jeff Riddle, the husband of Kimberly Riddle, the teacher's aide that was killed, and Sharon Glasper, the mother of 7-year-old Seraya Glasper, one of two students killed, allege that all have some blame in the fatal crash.

Riddle, Seraya and 6-year-old Zykia Burns were all aboard Bus 57, driven by Joe Gallman, when Bus 44, driven by James Davenport, crossed the median of Asheville Highway and struck Gallman's bus.

Davenport, who died June 1 of apparent "natural causes," was exchanging texts with a convicted prostitute at the time of the crash, police determined. And even though he bore no fault in the crash, Gallman was cited by Knoxville police on a charge of operating a school bus without a proper endorsement.

The families, who are both represented by Knoxville attorney Gregory P. Isaacs, allege in the lawsuits that the school system failed to respond to prior complaints of misconduct and distracted driving by Davenport, as well as adopting or implementing a policy in which students could report problems concerning the operation or behavior of a bus driver.

The school system "knowingly and intentionally allowed defendant Davenport to continue to transport students despite the complaints," the suit alleges.

It also notes that the school system implemented a policy to have an aide on Davenport's bus but "no aide was present on Bus 44 on the day of the accident."

"Knox County and its agents should be held to a high standard of care because they had the ability to deliberate about the decision regarding transporting students to and from school and failed to institute policies and procedures to insure that such transportation was done in a safe manner," according to the lawsuit.

Melissa Ogden, the school system's spokeswoman, said "as a matter of practice, we do not discuss matters in litigation."

The lawsuit also claims Davenport was to blame in the crash because he was texting a known prostitute while operating the bus, was speeding and "failed to exercise due care in the operation of a motor vehicle."

The suits say Gallman was negligent because he was speeding and was not licensed by the state Department of Transportation to transport students on school buses.

Both lawsuits seek a jury trial and up to $3 million in damages.

Zykia's mother, Ukennia Arinze, who is represented by Knoxville attorney Gary Dawson, has filed a separate wrongful death lawsuit in the crash against the school system, Davenport, Gallman and both bus contractors.

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