Feb 10, 2008 5:40 pm US/Central
Family Sues CTA After Bus Driver Kills Loved One
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The family of a woman run over by a CTA bus is suing the transit agency. As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, they claim the driver wasn't paying attention.
By court order, the CTA provided video recorded on bus cameras, showing the last moments of Ludwika Szynalik's life.
She put her bicycle on the bike rack on the 152 Addison Street bus on December 31, and got aboard.
Ten minutes later, she rose to exit the bus at Natchez. She reached for her bike, moved around to the front of the rack, when the bus accelerated forward, running her over.
"It's a very disturbing video, for the family, it's obviously incredibly troubling," said Tim Cavanagh, attorney for Szynalik's family.
Szynalik's sons and cousins could hardly bear to watch the video of the accident.
"My mother was a wonderful woman who gave so much, she had plans for the future," said Szynalik's son, Paul Lupa.
The 59-year-old grandmother of three was a housekeeper on Chicago's Northwest side and used her bike nearly everyday.
Attorneys say the video shows that the driver should have seen her in front of the bus.
"Clearly, this driver was not paying attention, was not doing his job and cost Ludwika her life," Cavanagh said.
The attorneys say Ludwika Szynalik was dragged for 80 feet. Other motorists on Addison honked and yelled to stop the bus. The video tape shows the CTA driver, Martin Stark, making telephone calls and gathering his things.
"We can tell he didn't get off the bus for four minutes, took a glance down the side of the bus – that's all we know at this point," Cavanagh said.
A CTA spokesperson reacted Sunday by saying, "this is a very unfortunate accident and our hearts go out to the family."
The CTA plans to continue to work with the Szynalik family attorney. The CTA did not release the status of the bus driver.
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