Perica
The husband of a woman who died after a van rolled backward over her is being sued by his wife.
Donna Miller, as special administrator of the estate of Judy Gray, filed a lawsuit Jan. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court against Vernon Gray.
In her complaint, Miller claims Vernon Gray was in the backseat of a van when the van began to roll backwards on Jan. 31, 2010. Seeing the van in motion, Judy Gray ran toward it and attempted to jump in the driver's door to stop its reverse motion, according to the complaint. Instead, she was run over by the vehicle, the suit states.
Vernon Gray is accused of failing to properly put the vehicle in park and for failing to engage the emergency brake when he got out of the driver's seat.
The incident caused Judy Gray to sustain severe fractures to her pelvis and body and led to her death, the complaint says.
At the time of the incident, Judy Gray left behind her husband and a daughter and son. Miller claims Judy Gray's family has lost her support.
In her two-count complaint, Miller is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus other relief the court deems just.
Bob L. Perica of The Perica Law Firm in Wood River will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-121.