A lawsuit has been filed after two elementary grade students on a field trip were struck by a prototype Mustang Dark Horse during a vehicle demonstration in Auburn Hills.
The suit has been filed against Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., Ford Motor Company, the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), and Linus Gugino.
On July 17, 2023, 8-year-old Elijah Gibson & 10-year-old Lavell McGee attended the demonstration at a test track owned by Continental Automotive, a company specializing in vehicle research and development.
The demonstration featured a vehicle owned by Ford and driven by Linus Gugino, an employee of Continental. The event was part of DAPCEP’s STEM summer camp field trip, which provides students with educational experiences aimed at expanding their interest in the STEM field.
During the demonstration, the driver allegedly lost control of the car while accelerating, causing the vehicle to crash into a guardrail where children, including Elijah and Lavell McGee, were positioned, according to the lawsuit. Both children were severely injured. Elijah suffered multiple leg fractures, a traumatic brain injury, and other injuries requiring extensive medical treatment. Lavell sustained serious head injuries.
The lawsuit, filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, claims that Continental, Ford, DAPCEP, and Gugino failed to ensure the safety of the children during the event. The claims include counts of negligence, gross negligence, direct negligence, negligent entrustment, and liability related to the ownership and premises.
“No one involved in hosting this demonstration took the simplest steps to keep the kids there safe,” said attorney Jon Marko. “It’s sickening knowing what happened to Elijah and Lavell, and that they’ll have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.”
