The parents of an 8-year-old girl seriously injured while tubing at a Bountiful junior high school have sued the Davis County School District.
Stephanie Powers was sledding with other children on Dec. 26 of last year at Mueller Park Junior High when she crashed into the side of a portable classroom, striking her head on a protruding bolt, according to the lawsuit.She fractured her skull, lost her sense of taste, suffered hearing problems and has "permanent and disabling" injuries, the suit states.
The lawsuit, filed this week in 2nd District Court, accuses school district officials of negligence for placing a portable classroom in a path used by children for sledding.
Powers' parents are seeking at least $250,000 plus medical expenses, other unspecified damages and court costs.
"Prior to the plaintiff's accident, there were many other accidents, some resulting in serious injuries. School district personnel knew or should have known of these prior accidents but did nothing to make the hill safe for sledding or to prevent children from sledding on the hill," according to the suit.
Jack and Teresa Powers were out of town for the holidays and could not be reached for comment. School district officials said they were unaware of the lawsuit and declined comment.
School officials have posted signs at the junior high prohibiting sledding.