Widow of Golfer Killed in School Bus Tumble Suing Driver, Bus Company

The widow of a man mortally injured on his way home from a golf outing when he fell down the steps of a moving school bus, then out the doors and into the street, has filed a lawsuit in Will County court.

Lisa Marchiando, the widow of Joseph Marchiando, sued Illinois Central Truck Leasing, Illinois Central School Bus, and school bus driver Nicole Sampson.

Joseph Marchiando, a Spring Valley resident, was 48 when, according to the lawsuit, he fell out of a school bus and hit his head on the pavement in September 2015.

Sampson was heading through Spring Valley when she made a turn, the suit said, and Joseph Marchiando, who was standing near the front of the bus, tumbled down the steps and out the door.

Joseph Marchiando died eight days later at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, according to the lawsuit.

Radio station WLPO reported at the time of the accident that other passengers said Joseph Marchiando was “standing up talking to them when he fell down the bus’ steps” as they were on the way back from the golf outing.

Joseph Marchiando was a union carpenter, according to his obituary.