Marissa man sues railroad for deaths of wife and daughter

Michael Porter of Marissa is suing Illinois Central Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad over the deaths of his wife and daughter who were killed at a gateless crossing in Marissa on Nov. 20, 2006.

Tina Porter, 43, was driving a 2004 Chevy Blazer northbound on South Main Street when the vehicle was struck at a crossing by a Union Pacific train, killing her as well as her daughter Allaysa Porter, 13, and another girl Donna Jean Calvert, 13.

According to a report in the Belleville News-Democrat, a fourth passenger, Julie Seymour, 12, was critically injured in the accident. The report stated that residents had been pushing to get gates installed since spring 2005.

The suit, filed Jan. 10 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, claims Illinois Central, doing business as Canadian National, is negligent for failing to properly maintain the crossing. Union Pacific, according to the suit, operated its train negligently.

Represented by Thomas Q. Keefe of Belleville, Porter seeks in excess of $300,000 in damages, plus costs.

Porter claims he has been permanently deprived of the love, companionship, society, support and guidance of his wife and daughter, and that he has become liable for larges sums of money in hospital, medical and burial expenses.