East Chain of Rocks Road accident leads to suit

A woman alleges she sustained multiple injuries after a driver failed to yield the right-of-way to her vehicle.

Melissa Souvannasing filed a lawsuit Oct. 16 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against David Recktenwald.

Souvannasing says she was driving east on East Chain of Rocks Road approaching its intersection with a private driveway on Dec. 19, 2012, when Recktenwald, who was driving west on the same road, struck her vehicle.

Because of the collision, Souvannasing incurred head, neck, back, right hand, right wrist, right fingers, chest, pelvis, right hip, ribs, spine and cartilage injuries and suffered headaches, neck pain, back pain, hand pain, wrist pain, finger pain, chest pain, pelvis pain, flank pain and hip pain, according to the complaint.

The suit states she also suffered pain, headaches, nausea, nervousness, swelling, dizziness, inflammation, limitation of motion and impairment of her natural function; incurred medical costs; and endured an impaired ability to enjoy life.

Souvannasing blames Recktenwald for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to yield the right-of-way, drove too fast, failed to keep a proper lookout and failed to decrease his speed to avoid a collision, the complaint says.

In her complaint, Souvannasing seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs. Attorney Justin B. Mattea of Collinsville will represent the plaintiff.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-693.