A Madison County man has filed suit against two other Madison County men, alleging he was injured after a collision.
Christopher M. Bechtold was driving his Mercury Sable south on Ninth Street and was approaching Edwardsville Road in Wood River on Feb. 7, 2007, at about 8:42 p.m., according to the complaint filed Feb. 3 in Madison County Circuit Court.
As Bechtold approached Edwardsville Road, he slowed down to a stop, was yielding to cross-traffic and was waiting to merge onto Edwardsville Road when James B. Mayhew, who was driving in the same direction, rear-ended Bechtold's vehicle, the suit states.
At the time of the collision, Mayhew was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier belonging to Jeremy T. Beluska, Bechtold claims.
Because of the accident, Bechtold suffered severe and permanent injuries, disability, disfigurement, great physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, impairment in the enjoyment of everyday life and incurred substantial medical costs, according to the complaint.
He was also hindered and precluded from the pursuit of his normal course of employment and lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him, the suit states.
Mayhew was negligent by failing to keep his vehicle under control, by failing to keep a proper lookout for others who were on the road, by failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision and as dictated by traffic intersections, by driving too fast and by following traffic too closely, Bechtold alleges.
Beluska negligently entrusted his automobile to Mayhew, who Beluska knew was a careless, inexperienced, incompetent, negligent and reckless driver with a suspended license, according to the complaint.
In the two-count suit, Bechtold is seeking compensatory damages of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.
He is represented by S. Russell Meyer, Amy M. Meyer and J. Phillip Steinman of Meyer Law Firm in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0093.
Cavalier strikes Sable from behind, suit says
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