A St. Clair County woman claims warning lights at a New Athens railroad crossing malfunctioned, which apparently led to a train wreck and serious injuries.
Sheri Dontigney filed suit against Illinois Central Railroad Feb. 28 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, claiming the railroad failed to sound a whistle in a timely manner, failed to apply emergency brakes and operated a train at an excessive speed as she crossed tracks on March 23, 2006.
She also claims Illinois Central failed to remove vegetation and other obstructions from its right of way "so as to allow motorists approaching the crossing the ability to see approaching trains," the complaint states.
Seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages, Dontigney is represented by Jarrod F. Beasley of the Kuehn Law Firm in Belleville.
Dontigney claims she has suffered and will continue to suffer severe injuries, pain, lost wages, lost enjoyment of life and disability as a result of defendant's negligence.
Illinois Central sued for New Athens accident
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