Suit blames driver for side-swiping vehicle, causing pile up

A woman has filed suit against the driver who she claims side swiped the vehicle in which she was riding, causing a multi-car collision.

Opal Castleman claims she was riding in a vehicle her husband, Steven Castleman, was driving south on Illinois State Highway 159 in Fairview Heights on March 29, 2009, when the accident occurred.

Defendant Catherine Holtzman was driving north on the same road when she steered her vehicle to the left, causing it to strike the Castlemans' vehicle. In turn, the Castlemans' vehicle struck another vehicle to the right of it, according to the complaint filed March 28 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the collision, Castleman suffered injuries to her head, resulting in frequent headaches, dizziness and loss of equilibrium, the suit states. In addition, she suffered great pain and mental anguish and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

In her complaint, Castleman blames Holtzman for causing the collision, saying she negligently failed to keep her vehicle under proper control, failed to drive on the right side of the road, failed to keep a proper lookout and failed to yield to oncoming traffic.

Castleman is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

She will be appearing pro se.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-156.