Colleen Lischwe, center (McKendree University).
The husband of a well-regarded water polo coach who passed away earlier this year in a collision with a semi-truck is bringing a lawsuit against the State of Missouri, alleging that inadequately cleared highways contributed to her fatal accident.
On January 15, Colleen Lischwe, 35, was driving her 2011 Toyota Prius eastbound on Interstate 44 when she experienced an issue that prompted her to attempt pulling over to the side. The lawsuit, which was filed on May 8, states that snow from a recent storm had not been cleared from the shoulder, preventing her from fully pulling over.
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The driver of a semi-truck traveling around 65 mph behind Lischwe apparently did not see her car and plowed into the back of her. Lischwe’s Prius went over the snowbank and fell from the overpass down onto the city street below. She suffered “severe facial and head trauma” and massive internal bleeding, the suit said, which led to her death.
Now Lischwe’s husband Casey Colgan is suing the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) for negligence, saying it failed to follow its own policies when removing snow from highways.
“Defendant MHTC, acting by and through its employees and agents, caused the portion of public highway on which Decedent was injured to be dangerous and unsafe for the public, and was negligent and breached its duties of care in several respects,” the lawsuit states.
The commission knew or should have known that improperly paved snow could create ramps along the highway, making an “unreasonable risk of injury to the public” including Lischwe.
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It does not specify an amount of damages Colgan is seeking but includes funeral expenses and pain and suffering. The Department of Transportation declined to comment when reached by local CBS affiliate KMOV.
Lischwe was the head coach for the men’s and women’s water polo team at McKendree University, a NCAA Division II school in Lebanon, Illinois. The impact was heavy on her student-athletes.
“Colleen embodied what it means to be a servant leader and cherished her opportunities to teach and develop young men and women. She was a close friend and colleague to many, and helped to create the special bond that exists within the McKendree community,” the school said in a press release.
After paying water polo at Marist College in New York, she became head coach of the Bearcat program in 2016.
In addition to Colgan, she left behind a 3-year-old daughter.
“She loved all her athletes and challenged them to develop strong character and respect for one another, alongside the technical skills and strategies of the game,” her obituary said.
A GoFundMe raised over $100,000 for her family.
