Tractor trailer causes accident on Route 203, suit claims

A woman has filed suit against the driver of a tractor trailer who she claims merged into her lane when it was not safe to do so, causing a collision.

Franecia Miller claims she was driving north on Illinois Route 203 in Madison on Sept. 2 when defendant Rodney Matzenbacher, who was driving a tractor trailer for defendant Bollmeier, suddenly entered her lane and came into contact with her vehicle.

Because of the collision, Miller experienced pain, suffering, emotional distress, disability and disfigurement; lost his normal life; and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint filed Nov. 1 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Matzenbacher negligently failed to verify that Miller's lane was clear before he proceeded into it, failed to keep a proper lookout for traffic, failed to drive in a safe manner, drove too fast, failed to decrease his speed to avoid a collision and failed to stop to avoid a collision, the suit states. In addition, he negligently collided with the side of Miller's vehicle, drove without adequate brakes and failed to maintain his vehicle in a single lane of traffic, the complaint says.

In her complaint, Miller is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

She will be represented by Tarun Rana of Kodner, Watkins, Muchnick and Wiegley in St. Louis.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-1108.