Suit filed in Highway 40 auto accident

Paul E. Lara and Melena Lara filed suit against Jeremy J. Quistorff and St. Louis Seal, Inc., alleging Paul was injured after his vehicle and Quistorff's collided.

Lara claims on Sept. 7, 2006, at 11:50 a.m., he was driving a 2002 Chevy Express van west on U.S. Highway 40 in front of Quistorff and waiting for traffic to clear so he could make a left-hand turn on Lions Drive, according a lawsuit filed Aug. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Quistorff was driving a Ford E-250 for St. Louis Seal, Inc., and collided with Lara's vehicle, the complaint states.

Lara claims he sustained severe and permanent injuries, suffered great mental and physical pain and anguish and will continue to suffer.

In addition, he says he has and will suffer loss of income due to his injuries, suffer disability, be hindered and prevented from attending to his usual affairs and has and will continue to lose value of that time.

According to the lawsuit, Lara spent large sums of money for medical care and services endeavoring to become healed and cured of his injuries.

Melena Lara, Paul's wife, claims she has been and will continue to be deprived of the society and companionship of Paul.

Quistorff and St. Louis Seal, Inc., were negligent because Quistorff failed to reduce the speed of his vehicle to avoid a collision, drove the vehicle at a speed which endangerd the safety and property of others, failed to keep a proper lookout and failed to keep the vehicle under proper control.

In the four-count suit, Paul Lara seeks an amount in excess of $100,000 and any other relief the Court deems just and proper.

Malena Lara seeks an amount in excess of $100,000 and any other relief the court deems proper.

They are represented by Doug Mendenhall of Smith, Mendenhall & Selby in Alton.