(25 News)–Two lawsuits have been filed against Peoria’s CityLift in U.S. District Court. CityLift is a service run by CityLink for people with disabilities who cannot use a fixed route bus system.
The complaints stem from incidents on June 4th and June 18th this year where children were supposed to be driven home by CityLift from the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association in Peoria.
The June 18th incident involved 13-year-old Marcus Mize, who has autism. He was dropped off miles away from his grandmother’s Peoria home. He was found wandering a country road outside Morton.
The family said the incident left the boy very shaken up.
The bus driver in that situation was later arrested.
The June 4th incident is coming to light through this lawsuit. The complaint states the plaintiff has a 15-year-old child with special needs who also attends the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association. The suit states the boy was mistakenly dropped off at a church in Peoria and left alone for almost two hours until he could contact his mom to be picked up.
The suits claim MV Transportation Inc. endangered the health and safety of both children. It also accuses the company of violating the American with Disabilities Act, along with several other allegations.
Both cases ask for a trial by jury.
