HERMANN — Five civil suits were filed this week in Gasconade County related to the shuttle bus crash that left 33 injured in Hermann last May.

Named as defendants in the suit are Wine Trolley LLC, doing business as Hermann Trolley, Arods Transportation LLC, doing business as Hermann Trolley and driver, Geoffrey Neill, all of Hermann.

Neill was employed part-time with the company as a driver. He also serves as Superintendent of Gasconade County R-I School District.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) crash report, on May 3, 2025, Neill was traveling westbound on State Highway 100 west of Eagles Nest Drive when the 2000 Freightline M Line shuttle bus (trolley bus) he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway. The driver reportedly overcorrected and traveled off the left side of the road and struck a ditch.

There were 41 people onboard.

“A total of 10 ambulances were dispatched from surrounding districts and an air ambulance was requested,” according to a Hermann Area Volunteer Fire Department’s post the day of the accident. “Hermann Area District Hospital was contacted to activate their MCI (mass casualty incident) protocol to prepare for an increase in patients.”

MSHP reported that the driver was flown from the scene by ARCH Air Ambulance to University Hospital with serious injuries. Thirty-three additional passengers were transported to three different hospitals with four having serious injuries, 11 having moderate injuries, 17 having minor injuries and one with no reported injuries.

A total of 19 plaintiffs were named across the suits, 26GA-CC00004-8: John Reichert, Hilary Reichert and Kristen Leitze, all of Kansas City, Bridgette Reichert of Overland Park, Kan., and Adam Keally of Olathe, Kan., represented by attorney Jordan Dollar of Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe of Kansas City; Ralph R. Adams and Linda F. Smith, both of Monroe City, represented by attorney Jay Benson of The Benson Law Firm in Kirksville; Ashley Herrmann, Joel Herrmann and Analisa Smith, all of Lee’s Summit, and Alyssa Caudel of Grain Valley, represented by attorney Phyllis Norman of Norman and Graves of Kansas City; Michael Petot and Michelle Norrick, both of Imperial, and Alan Hill and Beate Hill, both of Lonedell, represented by attorney Keith Cheung of Curtis, Heinz, Garrett & O’Keefe of Clayton; and Brooke Emshoff and Jonathan Tosh, both of St. Louis, and Mark Millay and Lisa Millay, both of House Springs, represented by attorney Ryan Krupp of Krupp & Raboin Law Firm of St. Louis.

All plaintiffs submitted claims of negligence and negligence per se against all defendants and claims of negligent hiring, training, retention and supervision against Hermann Trolley and Wine Trolley.

The petitions allege that Neill failed to operate the bus in a careful, prudent and lawful manner by exceeding the posted speed limit, driving too fast for conditions, following another vehicle too closely, failing to maintain control of the vehicle, failing to keep a careful lookout, failing to be attentive to his driving environment or the roadway, operating the vehicle while impaired or fatigued, operating the vehicle while distracted, using an electronic device while operating the bus and in “other ways to be revealed in discovery.”

The trolley companies are accused of negligence with claims they permitted Neill to operate the bus when he was not qualified, competent or experienced enough to do so and after it knew, or should have known, he operated their buses recklessly or dangerously, while distracted, fatigued or impaired and failed to provide adequate training or supervision.

Collectively, the claims describe significant physical, psychological and financial impacts stemming from the incident.

Reported injuries include fractures to the spine, ribs, clavicle, sternum, nose, knee, and vertebrae; traumatic brain injuries and concussions; ligament and tendon tears; dislocations; contusions; and soft-tissue injuries to the neck, back, shoulders, hips, arms, and legs. Plaintiffs reported loss of consciousness, chronic or debilitating pain, mental anguish, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), emotional distress and in some cases, lost wages.

All plaintiffs are requesting actual damages that a jury determines to be fair and reasonable, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, costs, and all proper relief. Only attorney Krupp listed a dollar amount on the petition — for compensatory damages in excess of $25,000.

All attorneys have sought a change of venue for the hearings in accordance with the Supreme Court Rule 51.03(a) that such shall be ordered in a civil action triable by jury pending in a county with less than 75,000 inhabitants with the most convenient venue for all parties being Franklin County.