Woman hit head-on by wrong way vehicle and from behind sues both drivers

A woman claims she could do nothing to avoid a collision when she was rear-ended as she braked to avoid a driver who was operating her vehicle the wrong way on a ramp.

Jenene Biggerstaff filed a lawsuit Jan. 24 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Mary Jean Dinges and Michael A. Reed.

In her complaint, Biggerstaff alleges she drove her 2007 Cadillac on the eastbound ramp of Route 15 at its intersection with South 59^th Street when she noticed Dinges driving the wrong way up the ramp. As Biggerstaff slowed to avoid a collision with Dinges, Reed rear-ended her vehicle, according to the complaint.

Because of the collision, Biggerstaff suffered a neck injury; experienced severe pain, mental anguish and disfigurement; and incurred medical costs, the suit states. She also lost wages, the complaint says.

In her complaint, Biggerstaff blames Dinges for causing the collision, saying she negligently failed to drive her vehicle in the appropriate direction, failed to keep her vehicle under proper control, failed to follow traffic control devices and failed to keep a proper lookout.

She also names Reed as a defendant, saying he negligently failed to keep his vehicle under proper control, failed to keep a proper lookout and followed her vehicle too closely.

Biggerstaff seeks a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs.

Thomas Q. Keefe will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-45.