Ameren sued over man's sinkhole injuries near Alton home

An Alton man says he was hurt when he fell in a sinkhole left near his driveway caused by a power company.

Cardill Butler filed a lawsuit Sept. 8 in Madison County Circuit Court against Illinois Power Company, doing business as Ameren IP, and Central Illinois Public Service Company, doing business as Ameren CIPS.

According to the complaint, Butler returned to his home on Belle Street in June 2013 to see Ameren employees repairing a gas line on his property. Butler alleges a 6-foot hole was dug by the employees in a gravel area near the house. Over the next several days, Ameren tried to cover up the hole but Butler alleges the gravel area continued to sink. Ameren stopped coming out to fix the problem but the sinkhole remained despite Butler warning the company of the danger, the lawsuit reads.

Shortly thereafter, Butler says he came home, stepped out of his car and into one of the sinkholes left behind by Ameren. He alleges he fell and hurt his back and wrists. Butler also says after informing Ameren of his injury, an employee came to his house to apologize and admitted the company failed to fix the area in a timely fashion.

Butler accuses Ameren IP and Ameren CIPS of negligence and asks for more than $100,000 in damages for medical expenses and court costs. He is represented by attorney Michael P. Glisson of Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-1227.