GRANTSVILLE – Six more lawsuits have been filed related to the March 2024 Calhoun County school bus crash that injured 19 students.
The six new complaints – two were filed May 12 and three May 19 – in Calhoun Circuit Court against Jeffrey Brannon and the Calhoun County Board of Education bring the total number of lawsuits to 15. Attorney Ben Salango is representing the plaintiffs.
“The aftermath of this terrible accident has been terrible for these children,” Salango told The West Virginia Record. “In addition to their physical injuries, they continue to suffer the mental effects of the crash daily.
Brannon
| WVRJA photo
“This is a tragic case that was absolutely preventable. Nineteen children were severely injured by the irresponsible actions of the defendants. We intend to thoroughly investigate to make sure those who were responsible are held accountable."
Three students were hospitalized when Brannon crashed a school bus on W.Va. Route 16 with students from Calhoun County Middle-High School. His blood alcohol level was recorded at 0.127 by State Police, but the complaints say the preliminary State Police test showed his level at 0.161, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Last month, the 55-year-old Brannon of Big Bend pleaded guilty to three counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury and 16 counts of child neglect creating risk of serious bodily injury or death. He will be sentenced June 12.
His plea agreement states that each count of DUI causing serious bodily injury carries a possible sentence of 2-10 years in prison, while each count child neglect creating risk of serious bodily injury or death carries a possible sentence of 1-5 years.
According to the complaints, Brannon crashed the bus into a ditch causing injuries to the seven students. The injuries listed in the new complaints range include headaches, cuts, bruising, concussions, glass shards in the hips and buttocks as well as lower back pain.
One new complaint was filed by Roberta Ellison on behalf of her son A.A., who suffered a compound fracture of his femur as well as facial fractures of his nose and cheekbones. He spent weeks in the hospital and required multiple surgeries, including placement of rods and screws in his leg and plastic surgery on his face. He was required to quit playing football and weightlifting as well.
Two of the new complaints were filed by Shoshona Quick on behalf of her daughters M.Q. and P.Q. Both girls were taken to the hospital for their injuries, which included pain, concussions, contusions and abrasions.
Two more of the complaints were filed by Donna Hendricks on behalf of her daughters both with the initials A.O. Both girls were taken the hospital for their injuries, which included pain, concussions, headaches. One had to miss several band practices as well as the Honor Band banquet.
The other new complaint was filed by Stephanie Metheney on behalf of her son D.M., who suffered from pains and a chipped tooth. He had to quit baseball for the rest of the 2024 season and did not return for the 2025 season.
The plaintiffs accuse the defendants of negligent, reckless misconduct and violation of statute. They seek compensatory damages with taxable court costs and expenses.
A National Transportation Safety Board investigation said Brannon was traveling southbound on W.Va. 16 negotiating a left-hand curve when the right-side tires left the pavement and entered the ditch. When the front tire struck the end of a driveway culvert, the bus went airborne and began to rotate counterclockwise while rolling to the right.
The front of the bus landed back in the southbound lane and continued to rotate and roll, coming to rest on its right side across both lanes of the road, which is a two-lane, two-way roadway with a 55-mph speed limit.
At the time of the crash, the NTSB says it was daylight, the weather was clear and the roadway was dry.
Ben Salango and Patrick Salango of Salango Law in Charleston are representing the plaintiffs.
Calhoun Circuit Court case numbers 25-C-15 through 25-C-20