U-turn on I-64 caused accident, suit says

A man has filed suit against the driver he claims caused a collision on the interstate when he made a U-turn.

Gary Brown filed suit June 25 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against David Justin Berk and Quad County Ready Mix Corp.

According to the complaint, Brown was driving east on Interstate 64 in St. Clair County on Aug. 7, 2012, when defendant Berk, was driving west on the same road, made a U-turn and pulled out directly in front of Brown’s vehicle.

Berk’s vehicle was driving at a very slow rate of speed and the plaintiff’s vehicle was traveling at the posted speed limit on Interstate 64, thereby causing a collision between the front of the plaintiff’s vehicle and the rear of the defendant's vehicle, the suit states.

Because of the collision, Brown suffered chest and rib injuries, sustained a fractured sternum and had to endure a right hip replacement, the complaint says. He also claims he has incurred medical costs, lost earnings, suffered form a permanently impaired ability to work and has been restricted from his ability to pursue recreational activities.

Brown blames Berk for causing the collision, saying he failed to yield the right-of-way, failed to keep a careful lookout and entered the eastbound lane when it was not safe to do so. He also names Quad County Ready Mix Corporation as a defendant, saying Berk was working for it at the time of the collision.

Brown is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs. He will be represented by Mark L. Floyd of The Floyd Law Firm in St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-522.