Interstate accident victim claims other driver intoxicated

A woman is asking the court to render judgment in her favor against another woman and a bar after she was seriously injured in a collision caused by an alleged drunken driver.

Alicia E. Tepfer is seeking more than $150,000 after an April 20 collision in East St. Louis.

Tepfer was driving a 1998 Ford Contour east on Interstate 55/64 near its intersection with Interstate 70 when she was struck by Anne M. McMullen, who was driving west on Interstate 55/64 near the same intersection, according to the complaint filed Feb. 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Before the accident, McMullen had purchased alcohol from Pop's Nightclub, the suit states.

At the time of the incident, McMullen was intoxicated to the point where she should not have been driving and alcohol was a contributing cause to the collision, Tepfer alleges.

Because of the collision, Tepfer sustained severe and permanent injuries, suffered great pain and anguish and incurred substantial medical costs, according to the complaint.

McMullen was negligent by failing to keep a proper lookout for Tepfer, by failing to keep her vehicle under control, by failing to see Tepfer, by failing to stop her vehicle in time to avoid a collision and by driving under the influence of alcohol, the suit states.

Tepfer also claims McMullen negligently failed to drive on the right side of the road.

In the three-count suit, Tepfer is seeking a costs and other relief the court deems just in addition to more than $150,000.

John J. Hopkins of John J. Hopkins and Associates in Edwardsville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0108.