Hartman Lane accident causes injuries, suit claims

Two women have filed suit against the driver who they claim collided head on with the vehicle in which they were riding.

Gwendolyn A. Kennedy and Margaret Smith claim Kennedy was driving east on Richland Prairie Boulevard on Sept. 17 at about 6:36 p.m. when defendant Cathy A. Hines, who was driving south on Hartman Lane at its intersection with Richland, attempted to make a left-hand turn. However, in making the turn, Hines ignored a stop sign and struck Kennedy's vehicle, according to the complaint filed Oct. 20 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. At the time of the collision, Smith was riding as a passenger in the vehicle, the suit states.

Because of the accident, Kennedy and Smith became sick, sore, lame, disordered and disabled and suffered extensive injuries to their heads, necks, shoulders, low backs and arms, the complaint says. In addition, they claim they incurred medical costs, experienced pain and suffering, lost wages and suffered from a diminished earning capacity.

Hines negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, drove so as to strike the front of Kennedy's vehicle, failed to properly apply her brakes, drove too fast, failed to keep her vehicle on the right side of the road and drove without adequate brakes.

Kenney and Smith seek a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

John H. Hustava of Collinsville will be representing them.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-594.