Ottawa bus-train crash: 4 new lawsuits filed against city, driver's estate

Four survivors of the deadly Ottawa crash between an OC Transpo bus and a Via Rail passenger train are suing the City of Ottawa, VIA Rail and the estate of bus driver Dave Woodard, who died in the collision.

The lawsuits were filed Tuesday in Ontario Superior Court and all four plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Tierney Stauffer LLP.

This brings the total number of lawsuits relating to the bus-train crash to 12, including two filed by family members of passengers who died in the crash.

The total amount in damages sought has now reached $12.75 million.

The latest four plaintiffs include a man who was hurtled from his seat near the front of the second level of the double decker bus onto the roadway below, and a woman whose legs were left dangling out of the passenger compartment when the bus finally came to rest.

Like the others, all four statements of claim detail serious injuries, long, painful recoveries and lingering emotional trauma, and claim negligence on the part of the defendants.

Plaintiff Yanjun Liu says he was seated on the upper deck, about three rows from the front of the bus, which was sheared off in the collision.

According to his claim, he was thrown from the bus and landed on the roadway below, sustaining "serious and permanent" injuries, including numerous fractures. He spent the next 10 days at the Queensway Carleton Hospital where he underwent "multiple surgical procedures."

Liu's claim states he also "observed other individuals who had been severely injured or killed," and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. According to the claim, Liu continues to experience disturbed sleep, fatigue, flashbacks and nightmares.

4 lawsuits claim total of $2.11M

Liu's lawsuit is seeking $510,000 while another survivor, Jane Njihia, is seeking a total of $650,000.

Njihia's claim states she was among the last passengers to board the bus and stood on the first level, also near the front.

Njihia suffered serious injuries to her left leg and she spent days in hospital and underwent surgery, the claim states.

According to her claim, she "continues to suffer from significant pain, weakness and decreased range of movement throughout her left leg," as well as "great pain and suffering and profound physical and emotional shock."

A third survivor, Brigitte Gonga, is seeking a total of $500,000 and the fourth, Meghan Revells, is seeking $450,000.

Both Gonga and Revells claim to have suffered psychological and physical injuries.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Five passengers and the driver of OC Transpo bus 8017 died after the city bus collided with Via Rail passenger train No. 51 on the morning of Sept. 18, 2013.

In September, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada provided a progress update on its investigation into the crash, claiming speed and distracted driving were potential factors.