CCSD approves $100,000 settlement for girl hit by school bus
You may not remember Linda Sida’s name, but you’ll probably recall her story.
On Nov. 3, 2011, the girl, then 16 years old, was walking in a North Las Vegas crosswalk at Berg Street and Brooks Avenue when she was hit by a school bus and pinned under its tires.
The girl was rushed to University Medical Center in critical condition, where doctors warned that one of her legs might need to be amputated. That proved to be unnecessary, and Sida was released in mid-November of that year with the expectation that she would make a full recovery, according to North Las Vegas police.
More than two years later, Sida will receive $100,000 from the Clark County School District, according to a settlement with the former Canyon Springs High School student approved by the School Board on Thursday.
The Review-Journal couldn’t reach Sida for comment.
The bus driver was 51-year-old Lawrence Lai. He resigned in February 2012 after 16 years with the district, said district spokeswoman Melinda Malone on Thursday.
Five months after the collision, three charges were filed against Lai, who did not have drugs or alcohol in his system during the collision, according to a voluntary blood test. The charges were failure to obey a traffic control device and rolling through a stop sign, failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and failing to “use due care.”
Lai’s bus hit Sida, who was in a marked crosswalk, knocking her forward into the intersection. Lai attempted to brake but then ran over the girl.
When rescue personnel arrived on scene, Sida was pinned under the front tires of the bus, which was carrying only the driver and one student. First responders told Lai to back up the bus to free the girl.
Lai pleaded not guilty, but North Las Vegas Municipal Court found him guilty on all charges in July 2012. The court assessed him a total fine of $3,601 and 90 days house arrest, according to court documents.
Lai completed the house arrest but still owes $2,101.
Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.
