The family of an Illinois middle school student has reached a landmark $52 million settlement after the girl was struck by a vehicle while attempting to board her school bus in January 2025. The agreement, reported by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, represents the largest amount ever awarded for a pedestrian injury case in Winnebago County history.
The settlement concludes a high-stakes civil battle stemming from an incident that left a sixth-grade student at Stephen Mack Middle School with permanent, life-altering injuries.
The collision occurred at approximately 6:55 a.m. near the intersection of Latham Road and La Harve Drive, situated on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. According to court records, the student was crossing the street to reach a bus operated by First Student Inc., a contractor for the Rockton School District.
Evidence presented in the complaint indicated that the school bus driver had fully deployed safety protocols—including activated warning lights, an extended crossing arm, and a stop sign—before signaling the girl to cross.
At that moment, Allen Pelton, 31, driving a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze westbound, allegedly bypassed the safety signals and struck the child. The impact was so severe that the student was launched 100 feet into a ditch. She subsequently spent months in intensive care battling critical injuries that remain permanent.
The civil suit targeted multiple entities, alleging a systemic failure in safety and oversight. The named defendants included:
- Allen Pelton: The driver of the vehicle.
- Helm Group Inc. and Civil Constructors Inc.: The companies for which Pelton was driving at the time of the crash.
- First Student Inc. & Rockton School District: The transportation provider and the educational district.
The $52 million payout was finalized by insurance providers representing Pelton and his employers, the Helm Group and Civil Constructors.
While the civil litigation has reached a resolution, the criminal case against Pelton remains active. Following the 2025 incident, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pelton on several charges, including:
- Aggravated reckless driving causing great bodily harm.
- Passing a stopped school bus during loading/unloading.
- Failure to stop and operating a vehicle with a prohibited window tint.
Pelton has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is scheduled for his next court appearance on May 14, 2026, as the community continues to monitor the pursuit of judicial accountability for the tragedy.
