Iowa DOT will pay Illinois trucker $8 million over injuries from 2019 snowplow accident
A state board has approved an $8 million settlement to an Illinois trucker who was paralyzed in 2019 when he was hit by the plow blade on an Iowa Department of Transportation snowplow's trailer.
The 3-person State Appeal Board approved the payout to Terry Bunting, of Viola, Illinois, on Monday.
Bunting, 64, was clearing the windshield of his tractor-trailer after pulling over on U.S. Highway 67 in LeClaire in January 2019. According to Bunting's suit, the driver of the snowplow saw Bunting and moved to retract the trailer's plow blade, but pulled the wrong lever, leaving it extended.
More: Reader questions whether Des Moines snowplowing holds up in big storms
According to state records, the impact left Bunting with spinal and acute kidney injuries, acute blood loss and fractured pelvis and rib bones. He now must use a wheelchair and has already run up more than $1.25 million in medical bills.
Lawyers for the state said experts estimated the cost Bunting's future medical and other care could exceed $7 million.
By law, the State Appeal Board consists of the state treasurer and auditor and the director of the Iowa Department of Management.
Correction: A previous version incorrectly described the total amount of Terry Bunting's medical bills. The correct amount is $1.25 million.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: $8 million settlement given to trucker injured by Iowa DOT snowplow
