MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

A Belleville police officer has filed suit after he was injured when multiple vehicles allegedly struck his patrol vehicle.

Michael Seibel filed a lawsuit Jan. 6 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Taylor E. Sodam and Jacquelyn M. Yarber.

According to the complaint, Seibel responded to an accident on westbound state Route 15 near its overpass with Charles Street in Belleville on March 2, 2013. At the same time, Sodam was driving west on the same road when she lost control of her vehicle and struck Seibel's parked vehicle, the suit states. Following the impact, Seibel emerged out of his damaged vehicle and walked behind it to see the extent of the damage, the complaint says.

Seibel alleges Yarber was driving in the same direction when she also lost control of her vehicle.

"As the plaintiff was in the projected path of travel of Yarber's vehicle, and as his vehicle was behind him and an impact from defendant Yarber's vehicle was imminent, the plaintiff jumped up on the trunk of his vehicle to avoid having his legs crushed between the two vehicles, and was subsequently thrown from the trunk of his car as a consequence of the impact from defendant Yarber's vehicle," the suit states.

Because of the collision, Seibel suffered neck and back injuries, endured disability and disfigurement and endured great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaint says. He also alleges he lost his normal life, incurred medical costs and suffered from a seriously impaired earning capacity.

Seibel blames the defendants for causing the collision, saying they drove too fast, failed to stay within their lanes, failed to keep their vehicles under proper control and failed to keep a proper lookout.

Seibel seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. Attorney Matthew J. Marlen of Belleville will represent him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-1.