Acid-burned truck driver seeks damages

A truck driver who was burned by a spray of sulfuric acid is suing G.S. Robins & Co. in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

According to the complaint filed May 26, the incident took place March 3 at an unloading station at 800 South Sixth St. in East St. Louis.

"Defendant, by and through its employees, opened the valve used for the transfer of sulfuric acid too quickly, causing the valve to be overpressurized and thereby causing the hose to come out of the trailer spraying sulfuric acid on plaintiff," the complaint states.

Gerald J. Roth, Jr. claims he was seriously burned and suffered permanent scarring to his face. Represented by Robert J. Radice of Horas & Radice in St. Louis, Roth is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages.

He also claims the station did not have a safety shower on the loading dock which precluded him from immediately washing himself.