BELLEVILLE — A woman is suing a motorist who allegedly drove drunk and caused a Swansea collision when the plaintiff was eight months pregnant, causing her to deliver her baby four weeks early.
Karin Santos filed a complaint last month in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Angela Gavin, alleging she failed to drive in a safe and normal state so as to not cause harm to other motorists.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff claims that on Feb. 21, Gavin was allegedly intoxicated above the legal alcohol limit and collided with Santos' vehicle, who was eight months pregnant.
As a result, Santos claims she was severely injured, including a torn placenta, and began having contractions, causing her child to be delivered four weeks early.
The plaintiff alleges Gavin failed to keep control over the vehicle she was operating and was under the influence of alcohol.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in an amount in excess of $50,000, plus costs of suit and such other relief as is allowed by law.
The suit also states that Santos will seek to amend her complaint to add punitive damages up to 10 times actual damages.
She is represented by Thomas G. Maag of Maag Law Firm LLC in Wood River.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-99