Wood River cop sued for allegedly running light, causing accident

A woman claims a Wood River police officer slammed into her vehicle as she was attempting to drive through a green light controlling an intersection.

Vickie M. Oetken claims she was driving her 2009 Chevrolet Impala north on Route 111 at its intersection with Route 143 on Oct. 28, 2011, at about 8:33 a.m. Oetken was driving through a green light when defendant Darin H. Redden, a Wood River police officer, suddenly entered the intersection without an activated siren, and struck Oetken’s vehicle, according to the complaint filed Oct. 25 in Madison County Circuit Court.

In fact, Redden was not even responding to an emergency at the time of the collision, the suit states.

Because of the collision, Oetken suffered permanent injuries to her neck, back and hip; incurred medical costs; and lost wages, the suit states.

Oetken blames Redden for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to activate his sirens and failed to reduce his speed to avoid a collision.

In her four-count complaint, Oetken is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Keith Short of the Law Office of Keith Short in Wood River will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-1739.