Driver had suspended license, drove recklessly, woman claims

A Madison County woman is suing the driver who she says performed a u-turn in front of her and collided with her.

Colleen Weder filed a lawsuit July 29 in Madison County Circuit Court against Travis W. Odle and Jimmy D. Odle.

Weder claims she was driving west on Highway 50 near Shiloh Valley Township Road on April 6 when Travis W. Odle, who was driving directly in front of her, struck her.

"That at the aforesaid time and place the defendant pulled his vehicle off the roadway in his attempt to perform a u-turn," the suit states. "The automobile operated by defendant there and then proceeded to slam into plaintiff's automobile and then into a third automobile."

Because of the collision, Weder claims she incurred serious and permanent injuries, experienced pain, suffering and disfigurement and incurred medical costs. In addition, she lost wages, experienced an impaired earning capacity and was set back in her career endeavors, resulting in further lost wages, the complaint says.

Weder blames Travis W. Odle for failing to keep a proper lookout, for driving in a reckless fashion, for driving too fast, for driving with a suspended driver's license, for failing to keep his vehicle on the right-hand side of the road, for failing to drive within a single lane, for failing to sound his horn as warning of his approaching collision, for failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision, for attempting to perform a u-turn that could not be properly made, for turning onto a highway when it could not safely be done, for attempting to move a stopped vehicle before it was safe to do so and for driving onto the shoulder of the road when he was not stopping.

Jimmy D. Odle, who was the owner of the vehicle Travis W. Odle was driving, should never have lent his car to a driver with a suspended driver's license, according to the complaint.

In the two-count suit, Weder is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Brian M. Wendler of Wendler Law in Edwardsville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-786.