Four minors have filed suit against Arkansas Valley Feathers and one of its employees, plus a Carbondale woman, alleging they were seriously injured after an accident.
Raheequa, Laraib, Mazoona and Muhaarij Khan were all passengers in a vehicle being driven east on Interstate 64 by Neelofur Saqib, the Carbondale woman, when they were "negligently and violently crashed into from the rear" by Kay D. Schmidt, the Arkansas Valley Feathers employee, according to a complaint filed Nov. 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
The accident occurred after Saqib stopped on the highway, the suit states.
Because of the collision, Raheequa suffered injuries to her head, face, left upper extremity, left lower extremity, hips, back, pelvis and left hand, Saqib Khan claims in the complaint he filed on behalf of the minors.
Laraib's head, pelvis, back, left mandible, right mandible, liver, kidney, spleen, right lung, ribs, siculm and abdomen were injured, according to the complaint.
In the accident, Mazoona's face, right side, head, neck and back were injured, the suit states.
The Khans claim Muhaarij sustained injuries to his face, head, chest, ribs and neck.
All the minors have suffered pain and discomfort and the accident greatly interfered with their ability to enjoy life, according to the complaint.
Schmidt was negligent because she drove in excess of the 55 mile per hour speed limit, failed to stop, swerve, slow down or to sound a warning of her approach to avoid an accident, failed to keep a careful lookout, followed Saqib's vehicle too closely, drove at a speed which made it impossible to stop within the range of her visibility and collided with the back of Saqib's car, the suit states.
Khan claims Saqib negligently slowed and suddenly stopped her automobile on the highway without first giving an adequate and timely warning and stopped her vehicle in a lane reserved for moving traffic.
In the four-count suit, the Khans are seeking unspecified damages that are fair and reasonable under the circumstances, prejudgment interest, costs and other relief that may be appropriate.
Scott L. Kolker of Kolker and Germeroth in Clayton will be representing them.
St. Clair County case number: 08-L-608.
Passengers in stopped vehicle on I-64 sue drivers
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