Gateway racecar driver strikes safety crew member on drag strip, suit claims

A man says his neck was seriously injured after a racecar driver drove the vehicle into him while he was working as a safety crew member on the drag strip.

Roderick Hill filed a lawsuit June 6 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Randy Baker and Dan Miller.

Hill says he was working at the start line of the drag strip at Gateway International Raceway on June 6, 2007.

According to the complaint, Baker violently struck Hill while driving on the drag strip.

Because of the collision, Hill suffered severe and permanent injuries, was hindered from attending to his usual duties and affairs and lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him. He also suffered great pain and anguish and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Baker negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to see Hill, failed to apply his brakes, failed to decrease the speed of his vehicle or to swerve to avoid colliding with Hill, failed to give proper warning and drove too close to Hill, the suit states.

At the time of the incident, Baker was working for Miller, who negligently entrusted his racecar to Baker, Hill claims.

In the two-count suit, Hill is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000.

Michael P. Hickey of Brown and Brown in Fairview Heights will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-292.