A Bond County woman is suing a farm operation, a trucking company and several employees for allegedly causing a collision when a dump truck tailgate loosened and fell into on-coming traffic.
Catherine Von Rohr, of Pierron, filed a lawsuit on April 20 in Madison County Circuit Court against Jarden Brothers Trucking Inc., also known as a Jarden Farms, also known as Jarden Farm and Trucking; John W. Jarden; James W. Jarden; Joseph A. Jarden; Maurice F. Jarden; Charles A. Jarden; Steven A. Jarden; David W. Jarden; Jarden Farms; Gregory Street; Foster Township; Foster Road Commissioner Pat Maher; Jacob Strohbeck; Mack Trucks Inc.; and Galion-Godwin Truck Body Company, alleging negligence in a 2014 motor vehicle accident.
The plaintiff alleges all Jarden entities and Foster Township were motor carriers employing drivers of commercial vehicles. According to the complaint, on May 15, 2014, Strohbeck was driving a Foster Township dump truck westbound on state Route 140 near East Liberty Prairie in Madison County and Street was operating a Jarden Brothers milk truck eastbound.
The complaint says the dump truck’s tailgate, furnished by Galion-Godwin, loosened and fell into the opposite traffic lane in Street’s path. In an effort to avoid the object, Street first collided with one vehicle, and subsequently with Von Rohr, pushing Von Rohr’s car off the road.
The plaintiff alleges pain and discomfort, medical expenses, lost wages, and impaired daily living.
Von Rohr seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs. She is represented by attorney K. Lindsay Rakers of Tapella & Eberspacher in Mattoon.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-490
Loose dump truck tailgate to blame for multi-car collision
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