The family of a Vancouver father and his 6-year-old son, both killed in September 2025 while walking home from a school bus stop in an active construction zone, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Clark County Superior Court. The case stems from a collision in which a pickup truck struck the pair along a stretch of roadway impacted by ongoing infrastructure work.

According to reporting by The Columbian, the complaint names the pickup driver, Battle Ground-based contractor Tapani Inc., the city of Vancouver, and Evergreen Public Schools as defendants. Court filings reviewed by the publication indicate the family alleges multiple parties failed to ensure safe pedestrian passage through the work zone and that the conditions present at the time of the crash contributed to the fatal outcome.

The crash occurred near a school bus stop serving Evergreen Public Schools, where temporary detours and roadway modifications reportedly changed customary walking routes. The lawsuit argues that a combination of construction activity, traffic control measures, and site management created an unsafe environment for families traveling on foot. Each defendant is accused of playing a role in the circumstances leading to the collision, though the claims remain allegations pending judicial review.

City of Vancouver officials, Evergreen Public Schools representatives, and Tapani Inc. have not issued substantive public responses to the newly filed complaint as of February 17, 2026, and no hearing dates have yet been scheduled in the case file accessible through the county’s public docket system.

This incident adds to a series of regional discussions about pedestrian safety around work zones, school transportation corridors, and the allocation of responsibility between contractors and local agencies. As the case proceeds, it is expected to clarify procedural expectations for safeguarding pedestrians in rapidly changing construction environments within Southwest Washington.