Woman Sues City Of Dearborn Over 2013 Hayride Accident
MILFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A woman has filed a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn over a 2013 hayride accident.
The lawsuit filed by Cynthia Cialone seeks $25,000 in damages from the city reports The Detroit Free Press. Cialone and her 11-year-old daughter were on a hayride wagon at Camp Dearborn in Milford Township when it tipped over.
Cialone said she fractured three ribs and hurt her neck, and that her daughter injured her arm and shoulder.
The city has asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed, saying it is immune from liability because Cialone signed a "hold harmless" agreement on behalf of her group.
The then-28-year-old man who drove the tractor pulling the wagon pleaded no-contest to an impaired driving charge in February 2014.
According to a police report, the man — who was city of Dearborn employee — blamed the accident on riders whom he claimed refused to stay seated and, against his instructions, insisted on congregating on one side of the wagon.
There were 16 people on aboard the trailer at the time of the accident. Nine adults were transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Other riders were treated at the scene.
Hayride passenger Laura Lubeck told officers at the scene that she thought the driver was going too fast, adding that she "was screaming" and "terrified the whole time."
The incident touched off a debate on social media as to whether or not Camp Dearborn's hayrides are dangerous; with some people saying they were frightened or felt a driver had been reckless in the past.
Five other lawsuits have been filed on behalf of people who were on the hayride.
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