McALLEN, Texas (Legal Newsline) – The parents and siblings of a Texas teen who died after falling out of a bus have filed a wrongful death suit against the bus manufacturer and others.
Estate of Gabriel Miranda Jr., Maria Fuentes, Gabriel Miranda Sr., Alexandria Suzanne DeLeon, Ruben Antonio DeLeon III and Jon Hidalgo Doe filed a complaint on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated on Nov. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas against Navistar Inc., Navistar International Corp., IC Bus LLC and IC Bus of Oklahoma LLC alleging wrongful death and other counts.
According to the complaint, on Nov. 14, 2016, Gabriel Miranda Jr., 13, was pushed or fell out of the emergency door exit of a school bus while it was traveling at 65 miles per hour and was later pronounced dead. The suit states the bus was designed, manufactured and made for purchase by the defendants.
The plaintiffs hold Navistar Inc., Navistar International Corp., IC Bus LLC and IC Bus of Oklahoma LLC responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide an emergency exit door that could not be open while traveling, warning systems and alarms that would alert the driver if someone was attempting to open the door and automatic locking devices.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants, reimbursement, attorneys' fees, costs of court, and further relief as the court deems just. They are represented by Terry P. Gorman and Chigozie F. Odediran of Gorman Law Firm PLLC in Austin, Texas.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas case number 7:18-cv-00353