Teenage Girl's Death Sparks Lawsuit Against M-DOT

WJBK TV News
August 12, 2008

News Anchor Huel Perkins:

She was a bright, beautiful teenager killed in a car crash. Elisa Skinner-Bell died while taking part in a highway beautification program. Tonight, her family has filed a lawsuit. Fox 2’s Charles Pugh live right now with what her family really wants to see happen. Charles.

News Reporter Charles Pugh:

Yeah Huel, we’re here along 696 right at Evergreen, which is where M-DOT administers part of its Youth Corp program. It was tragically here, just about a half mile from where I’m standing, where Elisa was killed. Now her family wants this youth corps program to end.

Erica Bell:

I would never want this to happen to anyone else.

News Reporter Charles Pugh:

The family of Elisa Skinner-Bell is on a crusade to end M-DOT’s summer youth corps program. The sixteen year old was in a collision on 696 near Evergreen, a month and a half ago, June 27. She was in the back of this M-DOT van parked on the shoulder. She and her crew were picking up trash, when a 60-year-old driver, who state police say may have fallen asleep, slammed into the back of that parked van, killing Elisa.

Attorney Richard Bernstein:

We need the judge to issue an order, ordering the Granholm administration to pull the children off of Michigan’s freeways and Michigan’s roads.

News Reporter Charles Pugh:

Elisa’s family has teamed up with attorney Richard Bernstein, filing a lawsuit to stop the M-DOT youth corps program immediately. They also filed a lawsuit today against the driver who crashed into Elisa.

Attorney Richard Bernstein:

If you register your child with the Michigan Department of Transportation summer program, your child is going to be put on 696 and Lahser, without any protection. This program is a disgrace. And the way it’s administered and the way its run is unforgivable. And the fact that they would allow for something like this to happen can never be forgiven. And the fact that even after something like this happens, they don’t make any changes or modifications, is nothing short of a disgrace.

Erica Bell:

There was a work crew that we saw out on the road, like a month after this happened. And it looked like nothing had been done, like it was just another day. If they could stop this program and begin communication with Richard and the family, or the courts, to get something done.

News Reporter Charles Pugh:

Charles Pugh, Fox 2 News.

Now again, this family says that this program is way too dangerous for any child to be here along traffic like this.

Now we did speak with a spokesperson for M-DOT and for the Governor’s office today. Each of them said they would have no comment because a lawsuit has been filed. They wouldn’t even tell us if the program would be changed or ended immediately.

Meantime, Elisa’s family has started the Elisa Skinner-Bell Memorial Fund at any Bank of America, if you would like to contribute. And by the way, the Prosecutor’s Office says that they do have a report from State Police about this driver, but he has yet to be charged, if he will be charged at all.

I’m Charles Pugh, reporting live in Southfield.