Woman alleges injuries in collision with school bus

A woman alleges she sustained injuries when a bus driver struck her vehicle.

Christina Whitson filed a lawsuit Dec. 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Mascoutah Community Unit School District No. 19 and bus driver John Kistner.

According to the complaint, Whitson she was driving north on North Jefferson Street near its intersection with East Green Street in Mascoutah on Aug. 22, 2014, when Kistner, who was driving a school bus east on East Green Street, collided with Whitson's vehicle.

Because of the collision, Whitson sustained serious injuries to her left arm, left hand, head, neck, spine, chest, abdomen and pelvis, according to the complaint. She also suffered from an impaired ability to work and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Whitson blames Kistner for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to keep a careful lookout, failed to maintain control of the school bus, failed to drive in a careful manner, failed to yield the right-of-way, entered an intersection when it was not safe to do so and failed to stop or swerve to avoid a collision.

In her complaint, Whitson seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Attorney William K. Holland, of Goldblatt and Singer in St. Louis, will represent Whitson.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-821.