Cellphone use blamed in Route 3 accident

A Swansea man is accused rear-ending a car in East St. Louis while distracted by talking in a cellphone.

Christopher Smith and Sheronica Washington filed a lawsuit Feb. 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Kevin B. White.

Washington says she was riding in the front seat of a car driven by Smith in December 2012. The pair was driving on Illinois Route 3 and stopped at the intersection of Monsanto Avenue, according to the petition.

Smith says the light had just turned green when his vehicle was hit from behind by White's car. Smith and Washington allege White was talking on his phone at the time of the crash.

Smith and Washington accuse White of negligence and ask for more than $100,000 in damages for medical bills and court costs.

They are represented by attorney Gary K. Burger of St. Louis. They request a jury trial.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-99