‘Our hearts are broken.’ Parents sue school bus driver, TN school system after fatal crash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The parents of a girl who died when the school bus she was riding on collided with a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck and an SUV, are suing the Clarksville Montgomery County School System and one of its bus drivers, according to the Morgan & Morgan law firm.

“Our hearts are broken and our lives have been shattered by the loss of our daughter, who was bright, funny and one-of-a-kind. We have filed this lawsuit to uncover how this could have happened, and to ensure that no other parents have to endure this unimaginable tragedy,” John and Jessica Davis, the parents of Zoe Davis, wrote about the lawsuit filed on their behalf.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System bus was carrying 24 Kenwood Middle School students, four teachers and the bus driver when it crashed in Carroll County on March 27. They were on their way to Jackson for a Greenpower USA event.

Dashcam video of the crash, analyzed by WSMV4, appears to show the school bus crossing the double yellow lines of Highway 70 and colliding with a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck and SUV.

The lawsuit claims the bus driver was fatigued and distracted while driving during the field trip.

“The driver of the bus allegedly veered from her lane of travel over a solid double yellow line and struck a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck traveling in the opposite lane, head on. The school bus allegedly did not have seat belts for the passenger children, and two children were killed,” Morgan & Morgan said in a statement.

“Our clients suffered the devastating loss of their daughter in this tragic incident. Families place their trust in school transportation systems to ensure their children’s safety each day. We are conducting a thorough investigation to determine how this occurred, and are committed to holding those responsible accountable for their negligence while pursuing justice on behalf of our clients,” said Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Susan Neal Wiley.

The Montgomery County Soccer Association posted a tribute to Arianna on Sunday, which also would have been her birthday, according to the post.

“She was not only an incredible soccer player, but also an amazing person who brought kindness, dedication, and heart to everything she did,” the post said, in part.

The school bus driver was hospitalized in Memphis.

The Davis family’s lawsuit asks for damages in an amount deemed appropriate by a jury, not to exceed $5,000,000.

The school system said it is unable to comment on pending litigation.

After the incident occurred, the director of schools said on Facebook that administrators are “committed to ensuring that long-term supports are in place to care for our students, families and staff.”

“While the path ahead will take time, I am confident in our collective strength and shared commitment to support one another as we heal together,” the statement said.