Belleville attorney and wife claim injuries in auto accident

Belleville attorney Robert J. Sprague and his wife, St. Clair County Auditor Patty A. Sprague, have filed suit against a driver who they say failed to yield to them at a stop sign.

Robert Sprague claims he was driving east on West Main Street in Belleville on June 2 at its intersection with South "A" Street. Patty Sprague was riding in the vehicle as his passenger.

At the same time, defendant Adriano M. Silva was driving north on South "A" Street when he drove through a stop sign and struck the vehicle in which the Spragues were riding, according to the complaint filed Oct. 21 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the collision, Robert Sprague sustained severe injuries to his back, neck, shoulder and various other portions of his body, the suit states.

Patty Sprague sustained injuries to her shoulder, elbow and other parts of her body, the complaint says.

Both claim they were hindered from attending to their usual duties, lost large sums of money and incurred medical costs.

Silva negligently approached the intersection too fast, failed to keep a proper lookout, drove past and through a stop sign, failed to control his vehicle and caused a collision, according to the complaint.

In the two-count suit, the Spragues are seeking a judgment of more than $100,000.

Robert Sprague recently filed two class action lawsuits in St. Clair County over alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. He also is the chairman of the St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee.

Robert J. Sprague will be appearing pro se.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-561.