Lawsuit filed over accident

By: The Citizen staff report

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:23 PM EST

A woman, whose son was injured in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in the death of an Auburn teenager, intends to sue Cayuga County and the Town of Sennett.
The notice of claim, which was filed Wednesday, states that Lisa A. Zeyak, of Auburn, will seek damages for "wrongful, unlawful, negligent and careless acts and omissions" that she alleges have been committed by the county and town. The notice does not specify an amount, but states that the claim is for personal injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage, loss of services, and consequential damages.

At approximately 2 p.m. on Oct. 28, 2007, her son, Kevin Bouley, 16, drove a 2000 Ford Escort from Town Hall Road in Sennett into the path of a Centro bus traveling on Route 20. According to the claim, Bouley sustained a fractured collar bone, trauma, derangement and damage to his knee, and may be permanently impaired.

Sarah E. Smith, 16, of Auburn, a passenger in the Escort, was killed as a result of the accident.

The claim states that the county and town acted negligently by failing "to implement appropriate warnings or traffic control devices, ... to warn of inadequate sight distances, ... to properly inspect of make reasonable inspections of the intersection to determine traffic safety hazards, or otherwise address traffic safety hazards."

Zeyak, who is representing herself, states in the notice that the claim is based on her familiarity with the intersection, as well as the police report and comments from witnesses.

Town of Sennett attorney Don Cheney said Wednesday that he did not want to comment on the claim. County attorney Fred Westphal was not available for comment Wednesday.

For more, read The Citizen Thursday

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