Alstede's, Shuttle Driver, Chester Businesses Being Sued By Family of Toddler Killed at Farm

Nearly 14 months after Elizabeth “Ella” Fuehring was struck and killed by a shuttle bus at Alstede Farms in Chester Township, her mother has officially filed suit against a number of persons and businesses.

Sarah Slanovec, Fuehring’s mother, is suing The Streets of Chester Shopping Center, the Historic Chester Business Association, Alstede’s Farm, Neil McWilliams – the driver of the shuttle bus that struck the child – and companies that provided security and advertising services for a Harvest Celebration taking place in town that day, dailyrecord.com reported.

The lawsuit was made public in court Monday.

McWilliams pleaded guilty to careless driving and a $239 fine as a result of the crash, which was deemed accidental by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

On Oct. 12, 2014, Fuehring, Slanovec, and a family friend were walking through the parking lot on a busy day at the Chester farm, when they made their way between two parked shuttle buses running visitors from separate locations in town.

McWilliams accidentally took his foot off the brake and, rather than reapplying the brake pedal, stepped on the accelerator, striking the three pedestrians.

Fuehring died as a result of her injuries while her mother and Joanna Alemany, the family friend, suffered serious injuries.

The lawsuit seeks damages for Fuehring’s wrongful death but the actual amount has not been disclosed, nj.com reported.