Highway 54 accident leads to lawsuit

An Athol woman is being sued in federal court for an incident two years ago in which she struck a man on a bicycle on Highway 54.

Deborah A. Ferguson pleaded guilty Nov. 23, 2018, to inattentive driving after striking Philip Hoffman three months earlier as he rode his bicycle 3 miles east of Athol.

The court record doesn’t describe the injuries allegedly suffered by Hoffman.

Ferguson paid a $200 fine, was ordered to spend 30 days in jail, and a judge suspended the jail portion of the sentence, placing Ferguson on probation for a year.

This month, attorneys for Hoffman sued Ferguson in Coeur d’Alene federal court for damages of more than $75,000, according to court documents.

Coeur d’Alene attorney Michael B. Hague filed the suit in U.S. Court District of Idaho on behalf of Hoffman and his wife, Donna, who live south of Chicago in Kankakee County, Ill.

According to court records, Hoffman was riding his bicycle west of Farragut State Park on Highway 54 when he was struck by Ferguson.

“Defendant was distracted and hit … Hoffman, throwing (him) from his bicycle into the ditch, causing severe and permanent personal injuries,” according to the lawsuit.

Although the nature of the injuries was not disclosed in the suit, Ferguson is accused of driving in a “negligent and tortuous manner.”

Ferguson was cited, pleaded guilty to one of the charges and paid a fine, but the Hoffmans maintain in the lawsuit that Ferguson is responsible for medical expenses the Hoffmans incurred, and “will necessarily incur in the future …” and for “… pain and suffering … loss of enjoyment of life … impairment of faculties …” and for depriving Donna Hoffman “… of the companionship, society and care of her husband,” according to the lawsuit.

A jury trial has not yet been scheduled.