May 22, 2013
The owner of the semitrailer truck involved in a fatal charter bus crash denies any negligence or fault.
Whole Foods Market Group is responding to two lawsuits filed in Chippewa County Court. One was filed by the parents of Branden Atherton, who was killed. Another was filed by Brian Collicut, who was injured.
Whole Foods says the blame can also be placed on the charter bus company, Chippewa Trails and its driver Paul Rasmus. He died in the crash last October on the interstate in Eau Claire County.
In a court response filed earlier, Chippewa Trails says the sole cause of the accident was the negligence of semi driver Michael Kozlowski.
Five people on the bus chartered by the Chippewa Falls High School band were killed when it collided with the overturned semi. More than 20 others were injured. Kozlowski has been charged with negligent homicide
