MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Two Monroe County women have filed suit against a Georgia man and the company for which he worked, alleging they were severely injured after a collision.

Elizabeth M. Lewis was driving her 1998 Mazda Protege south on Illinois State Route 3 at its intersection with Illinois Avenue in Waterloo with her right blinker activated, according to the complaint filed Dec. 16 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Henrietta J. Langbein was a passenger in Lewis's vehicle when the incident occurred on Jan. 9, 2007, at about 2:48 p.m., the suit states.

At the same time, Rusty Arnold White, who was driving a 1995 International semi-tractor and towing a 48-foot flatbed trailer behind it for Collins Industries south on State Route 3, struck Lewis's vehicle, the women claim.

Because of the accident, Lewis and Langbien suffered disability and disfigurement, mental and physical anguish and incurred medical expenses, according to the complaint.

In addition to their severe and permanent injuries, the women also are unable to perform their work and activities, the suit states.

They claim White was negligent because he failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to keep his vehicle under control, drove too fast, followed the vehicle in front of him too closely, failed to decrease his speed to avoid a collision, failed to stop in a safe manner and failed to drive entirely within his own lane.

Collins Industries had a duty to exercise ordinary care for its employees to drive its vehicles in a safe manner to avoid a collision, but breached that duty when White collided with Lewis's vehicle, according to the complaint.

In the four-count suit, the women are seeking a judgment in excess of $200,000, plus costs.

Stephen C. Buser of the Law Office of Stephen C. Buser in Columbia will be representing them.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 08-L-639.