Man claims crowded Metrolink train caused injuries

A civil lawsuit filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court May 8 claims Bi-State Development Agency is negligent for crowding too many passengers into a Metrolink train following a St. Louis Cardinal's baseball game.

Seeking in excess of $50,000, plaintiff Robert Austin claims he sustained head, neck and back injuries after exiting the train on May 9, 2005, at the Eads Bridge station in St. Louis.

Represented by attorney Eric J. Carlson of Edwardsville, Austin claims he was pushed by the exiting crowd onto the light rail tracks.

"Plaintiff has experienced and continues to experience pain and suffering, he has experienced loss of enjoyment of life; he has incurred and will continue to incur expenses for medical treatment; and he has and will continue to suffer lost wages and earning capacity," the complaint states.