The family of a deceased man is blaming a railroad company for causing the man's death, saying he died after being pinned in between two railroad cars.
Sara Wilson Watts filed a lawsuit July 27 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Norfolk Southern Corporation.
In her complaint, Sara Watts alleges her husband, Stanley Watts, was riding on the side of a gondola car for Norfolk Southern Corporation and training a conductor in adverse weather conditions in Kankakee on Feb. 8 when the incident occurred.
"The Plaintiff's decedent was pinned between two railcars causing Plaintiff's decedent to sustain conscious pain and suffering, multiple injuries and death," the suit states.
Because of Stanley Watts's death, his family, including his wife and two sons, lost his services, care, counsel, guidance, instruction and training, according to the complaint.
In her suit, Sara Watts blames Norfolk Southern Corporation for causing her husband's death, saying it negligently failed to provide him with a safe place to work and failed to provide him with safe tools, among other negligent acts.
Watts seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and interest.
John P. Kujawski of Kujawski and Associates in O'Fallon will be representing her.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-421.