Driver accused of causing Collinsville crash

A Granite City woman is accused of pulling her car out of a Collinsville parking lot and crashing into pickup truck.

Betty Atwood filed a lawsuit May 20 in Madison County Circuit Court against Shirley A. Lutes.

Atwood says she was driving a Chrysler Town & Country south on Vandalia Street in November 2011. At the same time, according to the complaint, Lutes was driving a Mazda truck in a parking lot near the intersection of Vandalia Street and Delevan Street. Atwood claims Lutes pulled out of the parking lot onto Vandalia Street in a way that made it impossible to avoid crashing into her.

Atwood accuses Lutes of negligence and asks for more than $50,000 in damages for medical expenses, loss of income and court costs.

Attorney Jeremy A. Gogel of St. Louis represents Atwood. They request a jury trial.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-794