Cop claims driver struck cruiser while lights flashed, sirens blared

An East St. Louis police officer has filed suit against a driver who hit her as her lights were flashing and her siren was blaring.

Officer Danielle Moore claims she was driving a police cruiser west on West Main Street near its intersection with Illinois Route 157 on Dec. 9, 2007, when Juventino Rodriguez, who was driving south on Illinois Route 157 near the same intersection, struck her.

"On or about the aforementioned date, plaintiff was responding to call and entering the intersection of IL Route 157 and West Main Street/Main Street with the lights and sirens activated on her patrol car when defendant entered the intersection causing the front of defendant's vehicle to collide with the front driver's side of plaintiff's vehicle, thus causing plaintiff to sustain serious and permanent personal injuries more fully described hereinafter," the suit filed Nov. 24 in St. Clair County Circuit Court states.

Because of the collision, Moore suffered injuries to her back, right leg, right ankle, right hip, trunk, spinal column, vertebrae, intervertebral discs and all her limbs, according to the complaint. In addition, she suffered headaches, suffered damage to her nervous system, experienced great physical pain and mental anguish and incurred a diminished ability to work, the complaint says. Moore claims she spent $5,941 on medical costs.

Rodriguez negligently drove too fast, failed to keep a lookout, failed to slacken his speed to avoid a collision, failed to give warning of his approach and failed to stop or swerve to avoid a collision, according to the complaint.

Moore is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

She will be represented by Lynn A. Fischer of The Fischer Law Firm in Clayton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-630.