Grayslake community service officer hit while directing traffic files lawsuit

A Grayslake community service officer has sued a private school that employed a bus driver accused of striking the woman and causing serious injuries to her while she directed traffic on a busy thoroughfare.

Dale M. Strzyz was handling traffic-control duties for Grayslake police outside Prairieview School in Hainesville when she was injured by the bus on Nov. 29, 2011, according to her lawsuit.

Strzyz’s lawyer filed the negligence complaint in Lake County circuit court on April 18 against La Petite Academy Inc., which has a Round Lake Beach branch.

Kate York, executive director of the Round Lake Beach facility, declined to comment on the case Monday and referred inquires to La Petite’s corporate headquarters in Michigan. La Petite’s Novi, Mich., office didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.

In the suit filed by Chicago attorney Michelle Kohut, it’s alleged La Petite bus driver Mary M. Moore was driving east on Route 120 at Misty Hill Lane in Hainesville when she struck the on-duty Strzyz. The suit contends Moore didn’t yield the right of way, decrease her speed or provide “an audible warning” with her horn before the collision.

Kohut was involved in a trial and unavailable for comment Monday. However, in an email, she stated Strzyz, 59, of Third Lake, suffered a broken arm, severe facial fractures, a subdural hematoma and broken nose.

Strzyz has been with the Grayslake Police Department for about 10 years. She seeks more than $50,000 in damages from La Petite in her suit.

La Petite offers programs, such as private kindergarten, early preschool and summer camp. Documents didn’t state whether any children from the private school were on the bus when it struck Strzyz.

Moore, who also was named in the suit, couldn’t be located for comment.