Woman claims Belleville officer crashed into her

A woman has filed suit against the Belleville police officer who she claims crashed into her vehicle.

Wanda Shea claims she was driving east on Illinois Route 161 near its intersection with Sullivan Drive in Belleville on May 26, 2009, when Belleville police officer James Fietsam, who was driving west on Illinois Route 161 near the same intersection, collided with Shea's vehicle. At the time of the collision, Wanda Shea's son, Nicholas Shea, was riding in the vehicle with her.

Because of the collision, Wanda and Nicholas Shea suffered severe and permanent injuries to their backs, necks, legs, ankles and feet; were hindered from attending to their usual duties; suffered great pain and anguish; and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint filed April 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Fietsam caused the collision by negligently failing to keep his vehicle under proper control, by failing to keep a proper lookout for other vehicles on the road, for failing to stop or swerve to avoid a collision and for driving too fast, the suit states.

In her seven-count complaint against Fietsam, Belleville and the Belleville Police Department, Wanda Shea is seeking a judgment of more than $300,000, plus costs.

She will be represented by Charles H. Stegmeyer of Stegmeyer and Stegmeyer in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-210.