Man who says he was injured in collision with school bus sues Columbus City Schools

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Zanesville man is suing Columbus City Schools after he said a bus crashed into the vehicle he was riding in, causing physical and monetary damages.

In a complaint filed Wednesday, John Ervin accused the district and driver James Crowder III of read-ending the truck he was riding in in January 2023. Ervin told NBC4 the crash happened at a left turn traffic light and resulted in hospital bills, chiropractic appointments, property damage and a loss of revenue to his business.

The district said it hasn't been served with a copy of the lawsuit and unable to comment.

Initially, Ervin said he was in contact with the district, and he said he thought they were attempting to avoid liability. He said he had documentation of the incident, bills and property damage, but the district did not offer what Ervin said he thought was fair compensation. He said the district had him file a claim through his insurance, and he communicated with a district attorney who Ervin said only offered around 10% of the total damages he suffered.

Ervin is a mechanic and provided a photo he said was from the crash. The photo showed a vehicle branded with his mechanic business smashed in from the back, with the rear trailer door bent inward and coming off of its metal frame. According to the complaint, Ervin also had severe injuries to his neck and back.

"To this day, I still experience numbness in my left leg when sitting for long periods of time," Ervin said. "I wasn't asking for a huge amount of money for pain and suffering, just my losses."

The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $25,000.

Ervin also told NBC4 that after the crash, the district's crash investigator came to the scene and instructed Crowder to leave before police arrived.

"This could have been resolved a long time ago with open communication," Ervin said. "CCS should have a better policy for at-fault accidents instead of having an attorney that tries to manipulate a situation when their driver is responsible. Thankfully, no children were involved."

The lawsuit is set for trial in 2025, with its trial assignment scheduled for Sept. 22, 2025.