In May, a woman fell to her death while riding a party bus operated by Midnight Express, and her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit as a result of this tragedy. According to the Kansas City Star, 26-year-old Jamie Frecks was attending a friend's bachelorette party on May 4 in Kansas City, Kansas. Frecks was allegedly "sucked from the bus" when a pair of double doors flew open after the vehicle hit a bump on Interstate 35.
Following the incident, the U.S. Department of Transportation ordered Midnight Express to discontinue operations until "egregious regulatory safety violations" were corrected, reports the source. The federal regulator found a number of potential hazards, including defective emergency exit windows, inadequate fire extinguishers, flawed break pedals and more.
"Companies that transport passengers for hire must follow regulations designed to protect public safety," wrote the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, according to the source. "Those regulations are often dismissed as heavy-handed government intervention. Hopefully, this case will highlight the importance of those regulations and ensure that other companies comply with safety requirements so that future tragedies are prevented."
The Kansas City Star reached out to Midnight Express's attorneys, but they had no comment on the lawsuit.
If one of your family members has died as a result of a business's negligent behavior and you live in Missouri, consider finding a personal injury lawyer that will work hard on your behalf. These experienced and locally based professionals can assess your claim, try your case in court and help you recover damages you may be entitled to.