Lebanon Avenue-Route 161 accident is subject of suit

A woman and her husband claim the woman suffered head, mouth, neck, back, left shoulder and arm injuries after a driver failed to obey a red light and struck her vehicle.

Michelle Wuebbels and Charles Wuebbels filed a lawsuit July 7 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Mark Childress.

In their complaint, the Wuebbels claim Michelle was driving her 2011 Nissan 370z on Lebanon Avenue through its intersection with Illinois 161 in Belleville on Jan. 16, 2013. As Michelle Wuebbels was proceeding through a green light, Childress drove his 2004 Honda Accord EX through a red light at the same intersection and struck Michelle’s vehicle, according to the complaint.

In addition to her injuries, Wuebbels suffered physical pain and mental anguish, incurred medical costs and lost her ability to enjoy life because of the collision, the suit states. Charles Wuebbels says he lost his wife’s society, consortium, companionship, love, affection and support due to the collision.

Michelle blames Childress for causing the collision saying he negligently failed to keep his vehicle under proper control, failed to keep a proper lookout, disobeyed a traffic control device by driving through a red light, drove too fast, failed to reduce his speed, failed to stop in time to avoid a collision and drove without safe brakes.

Michelle Wuebbels seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. She is being represented by Jeffrey A. Kopis of Kopis Law Office in Fairview Heights.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-533.