Parents sue driver they claim forced daughter off road

The parents of a Troy girl are suing a driver who allegedly ran their daughter off the road while trying to illegally pass a truck and then left the scene.

James and Peggy Tallmadge, individually and on behalf of their minor daughter, filed a lawsuit Oct. 31 against Daniel Hansen in Madison County Circuit Court.

According to the complaint, the Tallmadges' daughter was driving her parents' Ford Mustang south on Troy O'Fallon Road in the Township of Jarvis on Sept. 11. At the same time, the Tallmadges' claim, Hansen was driving a Dodge Ram truck north on Troy O'Fallon Road. Just north of Lebanon Road Hansen allegedly tried to pass a tractor-trailer in a no-passing zone and drove into the path of their daughter's car.

To avoid a head-on crash, the Tallmadges' say their daughter was forced to swerve off the road to the right, sending her down an embankment and into a concrete culvert. They also allege Hansen, despite leaving a significant skid mark in the southbound lane, left the scene without stopping. Witnesses allegedly were able to get Hansen's license plate number but were not able to catch up to him.

The Tallmadges claim Hansen was driving faster than the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit when he tried to pass the truck and failed to check for oncoming traffic. They say their daughter was hurt in the crash and accuse Hansen of negligence. The family asks for more than $100,000 in damages for medical bills and costs of the lawsuit.

Attorney Michael P. Glisson of Alton represents the Tallmadges.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-1823