Bar owners sued over I-255 fatality

The family of a deceased man blames the owners of a Hazelwood, Mo. bar for his death, saying employees at the bar sold intoxicating beverages to the driver who caused an accident resulting in the man's death.

Roderick B. Moss, Mae Alston and Caesar Moss filed a lawsuit Feb. 4 in Madison County Circuit Court against Premier Entertainment Hazelwood and its owners, James and Stacy Mays.

The plaintiffs allege Jon L. Moss rode in a vehicle traveling in the southbound lanes of Interstate 255 in Madison County when Newton M. Keene, who drove north in the southbound lanes of the same road, struck the vehicle in which Moss rode.

Just before the accident, which occurred Feb. 5, 2009, Keene had been drinking at Premier, according to the complaint.

"As a direct and proximate result of Newton M. Keene's intoxication, the wrong-way automobile which he was driving collided with the automobile in which the plaintiff's decedent, Jon L. Moss, was riding as a passenger," the suit states.

Because of the accident, Jon L. Moss died, and his family incurred funeral and burial expenses, the complaint says.

The family claims they lost their son's and brother's love, affection, care, attention, companionship, comfort, guidance and protection.

In the four-count suit, the plaintiffs seek $200,000, plus costs.

Terrence V. O'Leary of Bosslett and O'Leary in Granite City and Dennis L. Callahan of St. Louis will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-124.