Passenger claims driver struck parked boat and trailer

A St. Clair County woman has filed suit against the man who she says hit a parked boat and trailer as she was riding with him.

Kathy Burkett says she was a passenger in a vehicle Hugh Horner was driving west on Carlyle Avenue in Shiloh Valley Township on June 4, 2007.

At that time, Horner struck a parked boat and trailer parked on the side of the road, according to the complaint filed June 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the incident, Burkett says she sustained severe and permanent injuries to her neck, back, right shoulder and left leg. She also was hindered from attending to her usual duties, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to her, experienced great pain, suffering and anguish in body and mind and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Horner failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to observe the boat and trailer, failed to keep his vehicle under control, failed to apply his brakes, failed to decrease his speed, failed to turn to avoid striking Burkett's automobile and drove too closely to the boat and trailer, the suit states.

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

He will be represented by Michael P. Hickey of Brown and Brown in Fairview Heights.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-291.