Passenger blames driver for ending up in irrigation ditch

A man from the city of Lebanon is suing the driver of the car he was riding in after it slid off the road and into a ditch.

Jerry Flanigan filed a lawsuit Nov. 28 against Harley Huett in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Flanigan says he was a passenger in a car being driven by Huett in December 2010. He says they were driving north on Hagemann Road when, about a mile north of Rieder Road, Huett drove off the right side of the road, hit a bridge sign and ended up in an irrigation ditch.

Huett is accused of negligence for allegedly driving too fast for the weather conditions. Flanigan asks for more than $50,000 in damages for medical expenses, loss of income and court fees.

He is represented by attorney Kirk A. Caponi of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-633