MLK Bridge accident is subject of suit

A man claims he incurred more than $10,000 in medical bills after an allegedly aintoxicated driver struck his vehicle head on.

Nicholas L. Hughes filed a lawsuit Oct. 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Lindsay E. Burnett Jr.

Hughes claims he drove a 2003 Ford Expedition east on Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge on Oct. 31 when Burnett, who drove a 1997 Honda Civic west on the same bridge, struck his vehicle head-on.

As a result of the collision, Hughes suffered severe injuries to his head, back, neck, abdomen, spine and chest; incurred medical costs of more than $10,000; lost wages; and sustained an impaired ability to work, labor and enjoy life, according to the complaint.

Hughes blames Burnett for causing the collision, saying she negligently drove under the influence of alcohol, drove on the right side of the road, passed vehicles driving in the opposite direction, failed to keep her vehicle in a single lane and failed to keep a safe lookout. In addition, she failed to decrease her speed to avoid a collision, the suit states.

In his complaint, Hughes seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus punitive damages, costs, post-judgment interest and other relief the court deems just.

Mark W. Hagemeister of The Hagemeister Law Firm in Town and Country, Mo., will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-571.