MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

A man has filed suit against the driver who he claims rear-ended him while he was driving east on Highway 50.

Kent Loepker claims he was driving his Cadillac east on Highway 50 on July 23, 2008, at about 5 p.m. when he stopped for traffic. According to the complaint filed March 9 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, defendant Eliza Traylor was also driving east on Highway 50 when she failed to stop for the traffic and struck Loepker.

Because of the collision, Loepker incurred medical costs, suffered disability and loss of a normal life, experienced pain and suffering, sustained an aggravation of his pre-existing medical conditions and risks developing a future illness, the suit states.

Traylor negligently failed to watch for vehicles slowed or stopped on the road, failed to slow her speed to avoid a collision, failed to devote reasonable attention to her driving, failed to drive around Loepker's car to avoid a collision, followed Loepker's car too closely, drove too fast, failed to reduce her speed to avoid a collision and failed to promptly apply her brakes to avoid an accident, the complaint says.

Loepker is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus costs.

John A. Stevenson of Lackey and Stevenson in Centralia will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-107.