A NAPA promotion gone awry in DeKalb made national headlines in early August when a monster truck ran into the crowd.

Two of the injured spectators, George Hessler and Amy List, are filing lawsuits - one which will involve the city, according to DeKalb City Attorney Norma Guess.

“The city was named as a respondent in discovery,” said Guess, referring to the suit brought by List.

Driver George Busca and Genuine Auto Parts, the NAPA store’s parent company, are named as defendants in Hessler’s lawsuit.

Genuine Auto Parts’ attorney Robert Burke said it was company policy not to comment on pending litigation. Attorneys for Busca and Hessler did not return calls for comment.

Tim King, owner of the DeKalb NAPA store, said he was only aware of the Hessler lawsuit and could not comment on it.

“I am so sad this happened,” King said.

He said he and his staff are pleased List and her daughter are out of the hospital.

“That was our main concern, the mother and daughter,” King said. “I wish I could tell you more.”

The event took place on 6th Street between Lincoln Highway and Union Pacific with DeKalb’s permission but without any form of event permit.

“It looked like something people could get into,” Guess said. “From what we understand, they have done this across the country without incident.”

Though a few city employees were at the event, it was not in an official capacity. City clerk Donna Johnson said there was no direct city supervision and Guess said there were no requests for ambulances or other emergency personnel to be on hand during the promotion.

Johnson said no permit was necessary for such an event and neighboring businesses, consulted beforehand, voiced no concerns over the temporary street closure. This will likely change in the future, said Guess.

“It might be that we would certainly ask for more information in the future,” Guess said.

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