The McGehee Dermott newspaper announced in an article that the family of one of the victims killed in a horrific bus crash last month has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The wreck happened on the afternoon of June 6, 2022, and involved a C.B. King Memorial School bus and an 18-wheeler. Five people died in the crash, including 65-year-old Regina Jackson a passenger on the C.B. King bus.

Jackson’s family filed suit in Chicot County Circuit Court Monday, naming J.B. Hunt Transport and C.B. King Memorial School as defendants. According to court documents, Jackson’s family is alleging both the driver of the C.B. King bus, Susan Kennedy, and the driver of the J.B. Hunt-owned 18-wheeler, Charles Fowler, were negligent, causing the accident that killed Jackson and four others.

Preliminary police reports said that the 18-wheeler was traveling south on U.S. Highway 65 near the Highway 35 intersection when the westbound C.B. King bus attempted to cross over the Highway 65 southbound lanes. The police report said Kennedy failed to yield as the 18-wheeler approached, causing J.B. Hunt truck to crash into the side of the van.

The lawsuit says the family is seeking damages for “pain, suffering, and mental anguish preceding her death, funeral expenses, medical expenses, together with all other damages to which the estate may be entitled.” In addition to Jackson, other victims killed as a result of the crash were Tommy Figures age 50 of Dermott, Brayshawn Ranson, age 73 of Dermott, Terry King age 56 of Dermott, and Geraldine “Lil Bit” Prewitt age 73 of McGehee. Five others were injured in the crash, including the drivers of both drivers.

Plaintiffs listed included Jackson’s nephew Lucan Hargraves and her sister Leemarie Barney with Matthew Hartness of The Brad Hendricks Law Firm as the attorney of record. No court date has been issued.