A Belleville woman says a driver was distracted by his cellphone when he allegedly rear-ended her while parked at a red light.
Joyce Smith ,individually and on behalf of her two minor children, filed a lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court Sept. 15 against Map Automotive Warehouse Inc., doing business as Map Automotive of Bloomington.
Smith says the crash happened while she was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Illinois Highway 15 and North 74th Street on July 28. She says she was hit from behind by a Map Automotive cargo van being driven by David Baker, an employee of the company.
Smith alleges Baker was texting while he was driving and, therefore, too distracted to see her vehicle stopped at the intersection waiting for the light to change. .
The Smiths accuses Baker and Map Automotive of negligence and asks for more than $150,000 in damages for injuries, loss of income and court fees.
The family is represented by attorney Kevin A. Sullivan, of St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-524