School Ignored Warnings About Cheap Transportation Company Before Student Killed In Crash, Lawsuit Alleges

A federal lawsuit alleges Belleville Township High School District 201 continued using MVP Transportation despite warnings about unsafe driving, prioritising the company’s low prices without basic safety checks or a written contract. The claims matter because an MVP van later crashed while carrying students, killing one and severely burning another.

The complaint says the district paid MVP $385,655.80 between February 2022 and September, including $376,855.80 after a September warning that a driver had allegedly fallen asleep, swerved into traffic and nearly hit other vehicles. Earlier complaints also cited sudden braking and what the sender believed were beer cans in the driver’s cup holders. The crash occurred on 23 September in Cahokia Heights while the van was transporting seven Belleville West High School students; the district says it does not comment on pending litigation, and MVP did not respond to a request for comment.