KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The family of a boy who was hit and killed by a Lynx bus driver said it feels some closure now that Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a $3.2 million settlement bill about five years after the boy's death.
"We are very pleased that the governor did what is the right thing in the case," said Jeremy Markman, the attorney who represented the family of Matthew Robinson after he was killed.
Matthew Robinson, 10, was crossing the street with his brother, Mark, in a crosswalk in Kissimmee when both were run over.
Markman said Lynx later admitted fault and reached the settlement with the family. It had to be approved by the Legislature and signed by Scott because Lynx is a state agency.
What made the crash even more egregious to the family, was that the driver had five previous preventable accidents and was allowed to keep his job.
A Local 6 investigation last month revealed other drivers with preventable accidents -- including one with 13 and another with 17 -- were initially fired but then given their jobs back by Lynx CEO John Lewis, according to Lynx records.
Lewis defended that decision in an interview with Local 6, but did not apologize to the family or address the accident because it happened before he was hired at the agency.
"The reaction that you got in your investigation from the CEO was absolutely offensive to the family," said Markman.
Before signing the bill, Local 6 caught up with Scott, who addressed the family's situation by saying "your heart goes out to them."
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who sits on the Lynx Board, called for a review of Lynx policies after seeing Local 6's investigation exposing how drivers with multiple preventable accidents are allowed to remain on the road.
"When I saw your coverage and the mom's reaction, I understand that as a mom," Jacobs said. "I completely understand that and I think she has a right to expect us to look as hard as we can look at how we hold drivers accountable."
Markman and the Robinson family hope changes at Lynx are made.
"When you have drivers like this that have preventable accidents, and a history of a poor driving record, it puts all of us in danger," he said.