Passenger blames both drivers for West Main accident

A woman has filed suit against the two drivers who she claims collided as she was riding in a vehicle in Belleville.

Pamela Hogan claims she was traveling in a vehicle defendant Rosa Blackwell-Bland was driving west on West Main Street in Belleville on Dec. 6, 2010, when defendant Roland Klemme attempted to enter West Main Street from a private driveway. Instead, he struck the vehicle Blackwell-Bland was driving, according to the complaint filed Dec. 5 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the collision, Hogan suffered neck, back and shoulder injuries; sustained disability; experienced severe pain and disability; and lost pay and benefits, the suit states.

Klemme and Blackwell-Bland negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to yield the right-of-way, failed to stop and failed to maintain a proper speed, the complaint says. In addition, Hogan blames Klemme for negligently failing to warn of his entry into the road.

In her complaint, Hogan is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

She will be represented by Eric W. Evans of Evans Blasi in Granite City.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-650.