Estate sues over I-44 rear-end collision, fatality in Franklin County, Mo

M&D Freight, Inc. and its driver Ambers Leon Fisher of Kankakee County are being sued by the estate of a woman who perished in a rear-end tractor trailer accident last year on westbound I-44 in Franklin County, Mo.

According to a wrongful death complaint filed June 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, the accident happened July 2, 2007, when Fisher's commercial tractor trailer "violently struck the rear of Decedent's vehicle."

Christopher Hill, appointed special administrator of Lakisha Morris' estate, claims Fisher operated his vehicle "at a rate of speed which was, under the circumstances then and there existing, high, excessive and unreasonable," the complaint states.

Fisher's vehicle allegedly had inadequate brakes, the suit claims.

The incident took place near the intersection of Viaduct Street.

Morris' death has caused "permanent injuries and damages to the Decedent's next of kin who have been deprived of the reasonable value of her services, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, love and support," the complaint states.

Represented by Joseph A. Bartholomew of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin in Belleville, Morris' estate is seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages plus costs.