A woman whose husband was killed after the couple was involved in an auto accident May 12, 2004, on Interstate 55/70 in Madison County, filed suit for injuries she sustained in the crash, wrongful death and medical expenses.
In the suit filed April 5 in Madison County Circuit Court, Shannon Kent is seeking damages from defendants Betsy E. Dankenbring of Troy, Kenneth R. Mattison of Paris, Texas and Central Freight Lines of Waco, Texas.
Last November, Tammy Kent Delcourt of Mississippi, as special administrator to the estate of Christopher J. Kent, filed a $300,000 wrongful death lawsuit against the same three defendants.
Shannon Kent, represented by Stephen Mudge of Edwardsville, is seeking at least $450,000.
Kent claims that after her vehicle crashed, the vehicle came to rest on its roof in the inside lane of northbound I-55/70 near Highway 111. Christopher Kent was still inside.
According to the complaint, Dankenbring approached, stopped and exited her vehicle in the center lane without turning on her emergency flashers, and Mattison, who was driving a vehicle for Central Freight Lines, allegedly struck Dankenbring’s car forcing it into Kent’s already-overturned vehicle.
Kent alleges that as a result of Dankenbring's failure to park her vehicle in a safe place that would not obstruct traffic, and her failure to use emergency flashers to warn others of her stopped car, her husband suffered severe injuries to his body and head which caused severe pain and suffering, disability and ultimately his death.
She also claims injuries to her back, neck, head, legs and knees.
According to her complaint, Kent alleges she suffers great physical pain and function of the injured parts of her body. She states that her injuries are permanent and progressive, plus she will incur medical bills that will increase as time goes on for medicines, doctors, x-rays and hospitals.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Daniel J. Stack.
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