Schneider National Carriers
The estate of Cathie Ann Dolter filed a wrongful death complaint against Schneider National Carriers, Keene's Transfer and Marion Beaty in Madison County Circuit Court Feb. 20, alleging she was struck by a truck while walking at the Flying J's in Granite City on Jan. 21.
According to the complaint, Dolter was struck while walking in the parking lot by a tractor trailer that was being operated by Beaty.
Dolter's estate claims the trailer that was being pulled by the tractor was owned by Schneider National, while the tractor belonged to Keene's Transfer.
According to the estate, Dolter was knocked to the pavement after the bumper of the vehicle hit her, and was then completely run over with the left axle tires, "crushing her with tens of thousands of pounds of weight."
The estate claims Dolter "struggled for life for approximately two hours" until her death and during that time suffered "inhumane pain, suffering, despair, shock, and fright."
According to the estate, Dolter died from massive, traumatic and terminal injuries to her stomach, back, organs, legs, muscles, bones, nerves and other parts of her body.
Her estate alleges the defendants failed to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians, allowed mud, dirt and other debris to build up on his windshield and operated the vehicle without his headlights on.
Dolter's estate also claims her next of kin have sustained a pecuniary loss including the loss of companionship and society and suffered from sorrow and grief.
The estate is also seeking damages from Flying J's alleging the truck stop failed to have designated travel lanes for commercial vehicles, failed to warn pedestrians of increased dangers and failed to design the property to facilitate the safe movement of commercial vehicles.
Represented by E. Ryan Bradley of St. Louis, Dolter's estate is seeking damages in excess of $1.75 million.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David Hylla.
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