Date: Fri 08-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

schjool-bus-accident-Corbo

Full Text:

Town Included In Suit Over School Bus Accident

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

A female student who was a passenger on a school bus when it went off Hanover

Road in a November 1993 accident is suing the estate of the bus driver who was

stricken by a fatal heart attack just before the accident. The town is named

as a co-defendant in the lawsuit.

In the suit filed in Danbury Superior Court, Laura J. Yarish of 153 Hanover

Road sues Maryanne Corbo, the executrix of The Estate of Joseph D. Corbo, 28

Taunton Lake Drive. Ms Yarish seeks unspecified monetary damages exceeding

$15,000 in the suit in connection with injuries she suffered in the mishap.

The law firm Maher and Murtha of Bridgeport represents Ms Yarish in the

matter.

Mr Corbo died at about 7 am on November 22, 1993, after being stricken by a

heart attack while driving six students to Newtown High School. Mr Corbo, 52,

was driving a full-size school bus southbound on Hanover Road about

one-quarter mile south of Silver City Road when he was stricken, resulting in

the bus going off the right side of the road, striking and shattering a

utility pole, and striking several small trees before stopping.

Mr Corbo was found in cardiac arrest and was given cardiopulmonary

resuscitation by the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps before being

transported to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Mt Corbo, a

25-year-long resident of Newtown, had driven a school bus locally for about 10

years.

Ms Yarish, who was 17 at the time of the accident, complained of back pains

following the crash. She was transported to Danbury Hospital where she was

treated and released.

The lawsuit states that in transporting schoolchildren in the school bus, Mr

Corbo was acting as an agent for the town's Board of Education.

The suit charges that as a result of the school bus accident, Ms Yarish

suffered painful, severe and permanent injuries including: sprain and strain

of the cervical spine and the lumbar spine; an 11 percent permanent partial

disability of the cervical spine; severe muscle strain, contusions and

abrasions to her entire body; shock and trauma to her entire nervous system;

and soft tissue injuries.

In the suit, Ms Yarish alleges that Mr Corbo had been negligent because he

allegedly failed to disclose that he suffered heart problems which could have

resulted in a heart attack at any time, and because he drove a school bus when

he knew or should have known that he could have a heart attack at any time.

Ms Yarish alleges that the town was negligent in that: it failed to obtain a

complete health history of Mr Corbo which included a heart history; failed to

have Mr Corbo submit to a physical examination including heart testing; and

allowed Mr Corbo to drive a school bus when it knew or should have known of Mr

Corbo's heart problems.

The suit alleges that as a result of negligence and carelessness by the

defendants or their agents, Ms Yarish has incurred expenses for medical care

and treatment, physical therapy, and medical prescriptions, and may continue

to incur expenses in the future. The suit charges that Ms Yarish has suffered

and will continue to suffer great physical and mental pain and anguish. the

lawsuit further alleges that Ms Yarish has been restricted and prevented from

pursuing the activities in which she was engaged before the accident. Her

ability to move around and enjoy life's offerings has been impaired and will

be affected permanently, the suit alleges. As a result of the defendants'

negligence and carelessness, Ms Yarish was forced to miss work and

consequently lost some wages and may be forced to lose wages in the future,

the suit states.

The Estate of Joseph D. Corbo and the Town of Newtown have a December 26 date

in Danbury Superior Court to respond to the allegations raised in the lawsuit.