A probate judge on Monday approved a $5.45 million settlement in the case of a woman dragged and killed by a city bus five years ago.
The family of Ludwicka Szynalik was about to go to trial in connection with the Dec. 31, 2007 incident. The Chicago Transit Authority last Wednesday approved the multi-million dollar payout.
"For our family it was important for the CTA to admit fault. The money is not so important. It's not important for us because we have -- the guys have lost their mom," said Szynalik's daughter-in-law, Ela Lupa.
Szynalik was headed home on a Route 152 Addison bus when she got off and attempted to take her bike off the rack on the front of the vehicle. The driver failed to wait for Szynalik and she was dragged nearly 80 feet before the driver and other passengers realized what had happened.
"When you see [the bus surveillance video] it's very obvious that the CTA driver made a horrible mistake. And yet the CTA for five years denied fault in this case," said attorney Tim Cavanagh.
In the wake of the incident, the transit agency has offered its driver new training on how to work with passengers who are using the bike rack.
The bus driver involved in Szynalik's death was fired by the CTA after its own investigation. He had been driving for about a year when the accident happened.
