California woman sues UTA over injuries

A California woman has hired local attorneys to sue the Utah Transit Authority for compensation for arm injuries she says she received last year while riding TRAX.

Sally Colby, who is represented by Roger McConkie and Jonathon Tichy, seeks a jury trial and an unspecified amount of damages for medical expenses, lost wages and "other relief the court deems equitable and just," according to a lawsuit filed last week in 3rd District Court.

On Oct. 29, 2008, Colby was with a group of colleagues for a conference at the LDS Family History Library. The group boarded a TRAX train bound for Sandy at the Temple Square stop. While the group was boarding, the doors suddenly closed "without a visual or audible warning signal of any kind," according to the lawsuit.

The train started traveling at a high rate of speed, "apparently attempting to beat a traffic signal," according to the lawsuit, and Colby and others were thrown to the floor.

Passengers tried to get the driver's attention but were unable to reach an emergency call button. The driver received word of Colby, who hit the floor face-first. When the driver stopped the train, paramedics boarded and transported Colby to LDS Hospital, the lawsuit states.

Colby's left arm was shattered in several places and needed surgical reconstruction. Physicians determined Colby will never regain full use of her arm and that she will need surgeries in the future, the lawsuit states.

UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said he could not comment on the litigation, including the status of the driver, because the lawsuit is pending.

— Laura Hancock