Escort driver claims injuries in rear-end collision

A Belleville woman has filed suit against a Belleville man, alleging she was injured after he rear-ended her.

Barbara J. Bynum was stopped in her 1998 Ford Escort on West Boulevard, waiting to turn onto East B Street in Belleville on Nov. 9 when Eric W. Partenheimer struck her from behind, according to the complaint filed Dec. 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the collision, Bynum suffered a lumbar facet arthropathy causing severe and debilitating low back pain, lumbar sprain, aggravation of lumbar disc degeneration and aggravation of sacroiliac joint dysfunction, the suit states.

She claims she missed several days of work due to her injuries and received radio frequency ablation treatment, which she will need for the remainder of her life.

Partenheimer was negligent by failing to keep a proper lookout, by failing to keep proper control over his vehicle, by failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision and by failing to drive in a safe, reasonable and prudent way, according to the complaint.

Bynum is seeking a judgment in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

She is represented by Jim Ellis of the Ellis Law Office in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 08-L-661.