Injuries claimed in Bethalto accident

A woman claims she sustained severe and permanent injuries after a driver rear-ended the vehicle in which she rode.

Joy O'Daniell filed a lawsuit April 22 in Madison County Circuit Court against Andrew McGuire.

O'Daniell claims she rode in a 1989 Buick Century traveling south on North Bellwood and stopped at a red light at the intersection of Illinois Route 140 in Bethalto on June 26, 2008, at about 6:49 p.m. when the incident occurred.

"That at the date, time and location aforesaid, Defendant Andrew McGuire, of 55 North Main, Carrollton, Illinois, was driving a 1977 Buick Skylark, directly behind the vehicle in which Plaintiff was a passenger, when he struck the rear of the vehicle in which Plaintiff was riding," the suit states.

Because of the accident, O'Daniell became sick, sore, lame and disordered; suffered great pain and anguish; endured injuries to her neck, back, shoulders, arms, hands and feet; incurred medical costs; suffered internal derangement to the injured members of her body; and has been prevented and limited in many of her usual daily activities, the complaint says.

O'Daniell blames McGuire for failing to keep his vehicle under control, for failing to see the vehicle in which O'Daniell rode as a passenger, for driving too fast, for failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision, for following another vehicle too closely and for starting a vehicle when such movement could not safely be made.

O'Daniell seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Richard G. Reed of Reed and Bruhn in Belleville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-445.