Fayette teacher sues FCPS, alleging ‘severe’ injuries after school bus struck his vehicle

A married couple — both described in court documents as Fayette County school teachers — has filed a lawsuit against the school district after the husband said he was severely injured when a FCPS school bus struck his vehicle.

Kurt and Ashley Waechter filed the lawsuit July 22 in Fayette Circuit Court against the board, school bus employees and an insurance company.

“Due to the catastrophic nature of injuries suffered, we intend to prosecute this matter to the fullest extent of the law,” Masten Childers III, attorney for the Waechters, told the Herald-Leader.

FCPS officials did not immediately comment Tuesday or confirm the Waechters were FCPS school teachers. Kurt Waechter was listed on the school district’s website as a teacher.

The couple is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, the complaint said.

Bus driver Marie Candio, bus monitor JeMarcus Field and Westfield Insurance Company are all named as defendants in the lawsuit as well as school board members and other district employees.

According to the lawsuit complaint, Kurt Waechter on April 3 of this year was traveling east on Liberty Road approaching the intersection of New Circle Road. He had a green light.

Candio, driving a FCPS bus, was traveling west on Liberty Road approaching the intersection of New Circle Road in the left turn lane. She had a flashing yellow arrow.

She made a left hand turn onto the inner loop of New Circle Road striking Waechter’s vehicle.

He was rendered unconscious and the school bus employees did not leave the bus to help him, the lawsuit said.

“The bus hit him. He was knocked unconscious. As set out in the complaint, no one got out of the bus to check on him. He comes to, disoriented with a catastrophic head injury, and hits the gas pedal. Colliding with another vehicle. Had the bus driver gotten out to check on him, all preventable,” Childers said.

Ashley Waechter lost her husband’s companionship as a result of his injuries, according to the lawsuit complaint.

Candio was not cited by police for her role in the accident.

The lawsuit complaint alleges she failed to operate the bus safely, obey traffic controls or yield the right-of-way.