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Mother Sues Truck Driver and Transport Company after Bus-Truck Accident

A mother who pulled her two children out of a burning school bus after it was hit by a semi-trailer in September, has filed a lawsuit against the driver of the truck, his transport company and the corporation that owns it.

Rhonda Arbuckle, a Citra resident, is pursuing a count of negligence against the truck driver, Reinaldo Andujar-Gonzalez and counts of vicarious liability of Andujar Transport Inc. and Comtrak Logistics, Inc.

Arbuckle’s three children, 16-year-old Joshua, 13-year-old Natalie and 11-year-old JaSena, were all riding in the Marion County school bus the afternoon of September 23rd, when Gonzalez’s 1991 Freightliner smashed into the rear of the bus, which caused both vehicles to burst into flames.

The crash took place on U.S. 301 just south of Citra and caused the death of North Marion Middle School student, Frances Margay Schee, 13.  JaSena Humber was sent to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville with serious injuries.  Gonzalez and the truck driver were also taken to the hospital with injuries.

Arbuckle’s lawsuit is seeking damages for injuries to all three minors, in addition to herself.  According to the lawsuit, Arbuckle rushed to the scene of the crash and pulled Joshua and JaSena to safety.  She then re-entered the bus to rescue the remaining child, but was unable to save the child because of a small explosion.  Frances Margay Schee was the only student killed in the accident.

Schee’s mother has also been working to improve school bus safety by pressuring the School Board to remove all four-lane highway school bus stops.  She has been able to obtain 400 signatures for her online petition.

Mark Avera, Arbuckle’s attorney, hopes that the lawsuit will uncover reasons behind the crash.  Gonzalez told investigators that he was on his cell phone during the moments leading up to the accident and did not see the bus.  However, Avera believes there may be more to that explanation.

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