Collinsville accident is subject of suit

A Madison County woman has filed suit against a St. Clair County man, alleging she was injured after he violently struck the vehicle in which she was riding.

On Feb. 7, 2007, Patricia Cornell was riding in a vehicle Leonard Phipps was driving east on South Morrison in Collinsville when Charles Morrow, who was driving in the same direction, hit Phipps' vehicle, according to the complaint filed Feb. 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the accident, Cornell sustained injuries to her neck, back, head and mouth and is hindered from attending to her usual duties and affairs, the suit states.

She claims she lost large sums of money that would have accrued to her, suffered great physical and mental pain and anguish and incurred substantial medical expenses.

Morrow was negligent by failing to keep a proper lookout, by failing to observe the vehicle in which Cornell was riding, by failing to keep his vehicle under control, by failing to apply his brakes, by failing to decrease his speed and to turn and change the direction of his vehicle to avoid a collision and by failing to give proper warning of his approach, according to the complaint.

Morrow also negligently drove too closely to Phipps, the suit states.

Cornell is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus costs.

She is represented by Michael P. Hickey of Brown and Brown in Fairview Heights.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0060.