Victims of a crash of a city-run kiddie train more than a year ago may get help with their medical bills, if a budget add-on makes it through the Legislature.
The full Senate debates the state budget this week.
Peeler added proviso in Senate committee
Senator Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) put a proviso in next year’s budget to cover costs that exceed a limit on what government agencies have to pay. Because of current law, the city of Spartanburg is required to pay up to $600,000 – total – to cover all of the cases
A constituent of Peeler’s from Gaffney lost a six-year-old son in the accident, while about 20 others people were injured. Peeler was not able to legislatively change the $600,000 insurance cap, which would not have helped in this case.
The Spartanburg amusement train was driven too fast and crashed, throwing the passengers into a rock bed.
Peeler was able to get Benji’s Law passed, named after the child who died on the amusement ride accident. That law more closely regulates ride safety.
The senator says that if the train belonged to a private company or commercial amusement part, ”the sky’s the limit” on the financial help they could get.
AUDIO: Peeler explains what the measure would pay for (2:32)
