HOUSTON – A man who collapsed in a gas station parking lot is claiming that one bus ran over him two times.
Seeking more than $1 million in damages, Sean Madsen filed suit July 11 in Harris County District Court against First Transit and Mario Cesar Sanchez.
According to the lawsuit, on June 21, 2024, Madsen was a pedestrian who collapsed on the ground of a gas station parking lot.
While the suit does not state why he collapsed, it does assert Madsen was “plainly and clearly visible” and that video surveillance footage shows multiple vehicles slowing as they approached him and then driving around him.
The suit goes on to state that Sanchez, who was driving a bus for First Transit, failed to keep a proper lookout and "inexplicably" failed to avoid Madsen, leading him to run over the man.
“To make matters worse, Defendant Sanchez first ran over Mr. Madsen with his front tire and then stopped, ostensibly realizing he hit something,” the suit states. “Instead of getting out to see what had been run over, Defendant Sanchez, after stopping for several seconds, proceeded to run over Mr. Madsen with the double back tires too.
“In other words, Defendant Sanchez ran over Mr. Madsen twice.”
Madsen was rushed to the emergency room and suffered multiple rib and spinal fractures. He also underwent several surgical procedures for his injuries.
“A bus driver who lacks the basic driving skills to see and avoid a human being that other drivers clearly saw and avoided should not have been allowed to operate a bus on the roadway,” the suit states.
The suit is alleging gross negligence and is seeking damages for Madsen’s past and future medical expenses, pain, impairment, disfigurement, lost wages and loss of household services.
He is represented in part by attorneys Randall Sorrels and Philip Morgan.
Case No. 2025-48353
