Walgreens Oshkosh named in suit over I-64 accident

A woman has filed suit against the truck driver who she claims rear-ended her vehicle.

Stephanie Simms claims she was driving a 2006 Toyota Scion west on Interstate 64 at mile post 5.6 in Washington Park on Nov. 2, 2010, at about 7:03 a.m. when defendant James Coomer, who was driving a 2005 International Harvester truck in the same direction, struck the rear of her vehicle.

Because of the collision, Simms sustained injuries to her neck, upper back, midback and lower back, according to the complaint filed Oct. 27 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. She also was hindered and prevented from attending to her usual duties, lost wages, experienced great pain and suffering and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Coomer negligently failed to decrease his speed to avoid a collision, failed to keep his truck under proper control, failed to maintain his attention on driving, failed to stop to avoid a collision and followed Simms's vehicle too closely, the complaint says.

In addition to Coomer, Simms names Walgreens Oshkosh as a defendant because Coomer was driving a truck for the company at the time of the collision.

In her complaint, Simms is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Patricia A. Zimmer of Ripplinger and Zimmer in Belleville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-608.