ADAMS TWP — Following their meeting on Tuesday, April 1, Mars Area School District officials declined to comment on a lawsuit filed by five families over a bus crash that led to the driver’s death.

“We just don’t have any comment at this time,” superintendent Mark Gross told the Butler Eagle.

Officials announced that they held an executive session prior to the public meeting regarding personnel and legal matters.

The lawsuit was filed last Thursday, March 27, in Butler County Common Pleas Court on behalf of Ronald and Jessica Hardgrove, Gesuele and Lisa Burello, Patrick and Samantha Cocoran, Kevin and Kerri Friess, and Michael and Megan Waltenbaugh against the Mars Area School District and its transportation company A.J. Myers & Sons.

The plaintiffs are eight Mars Area students, represented by their parents who range in age from 5 to 12. They are represented by attorney Timothy Wojton of Scanlon & Wojton and are seeking more than $105,000 in damages.

Most of the students affected by the crash were diagnosed with, or suspected to have, a concussion, bruising and trauma, which have caused adverse effects on their sleep and well-being since then, according to the lawsuit.

The Butler Eagle reported last week that the lawsuit claims A.J. Myers & Sons was negligent by avoiding foreseeable risks by failing to ensure its drivers operated safely; entrusting Miller with the safety of children while driving the bus; and failing to control its driver after the district set bus routes, schedules and safety standards. The bus company failed to avoid foreseeable risks and failed to terminate the now late-driver, the lawsuit read.

The lawsuit says the transportation company allowed Miller to continue operations without increased training or reprimanding after three earlier crashes — one on May, 10, 2023, and another Sept. 6, 2023.

The deadly crash on Three Degree Road on March 6 resulted in seven students being sent to the hospital and the death of bus driver William “Bob” Miller.

Mars officials announced his death one week later on March 13.