Motorcyclist sues Agco after striking tractor axle

A Belleville man is suing the makers of a tractor after he allegedly crashed his motorcycle into an exposed axle.

Gary Leruez filed the lawsuit against Agco Corporation June 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Leruez says he was riding his motorcycle east on Highland Road near State Route 160 in November 2009. Leruez says an Agco RT-135 tractor was parked on the south side of the road, facing west. As Leurez passed the tractor, he says he hit its rear axle that was sticking out. Leruez claims the crash caused his motorcycle to go out of control and he was thrown to the ground.

Leruez accuses Agco Corporation of negligence for making an axle he contends was not safe. He is asking for more than $50,000 in damages to compensate for medical bills and loss of income along with court costs.

Attorney Charles H. Stegmeyer of Belleville is representing Leruez.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-340.