Passenger sues over Pontoon Road rear-end collision

A woman has filed suit against the drivers who she claims caused a multi-car collision with a bus.

Dolores Broyles claims she was riding in a 2001 Mazda defendant Lupe Valencia was driving west on Pontoon Road near its intersection with Johnson Road at about 12:04 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2011, when the incident occurred.

Suddenly, Chun S. Du Pont, who was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox two cars behind Valencia, ran into the rear of the 1999 Buick Regal defendant Sabrina K. Long was driving behind Valencia, according to the complaint filed May 10 in Madison County Circuit Court. In turn, Long rear-ended Valencia, who struck the back of the bus, the suit states.

As a result of the collision, Broyles became sick, sore, lame and disordered; suffered great pain and anguish and sustained injuries to her right shoulder, right hand and fingers, the complaint says. She also claims she has been prevented from earning money and incurred medical costs.

She blames the defendants for causing the collision, saying they negligently failed to keep their vehicles under control, failed to see other vehicles when they should have been seen, drove too fast, failed to follow another vehicle at a safe distance and failed to reduce their speed to avoid a collision.

Broyles is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs.

She will be represented by Richard G. Reed of Reed and Bruhn in Belleville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-640.