A Dupo motorist is suing a county highway department, alleging his motor vehicle accident was caused by a poorly maintained road.
Patrick D. Mezo filed a lawsuit on Nov. 13 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the St. Clair County Highway Department.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 4, Mezo was driving on a Cahokia roadway that the defendant is responsible for maintaining. As he was approaching a levy wall, the suit says, another driver lost control of his vehicle and veered into the plaintiff's lane, causing Mezo to strike the levy in an effort to avoid a collision with the other vehicle.
The suit says St. Clair County was negligent in failing to maintain the roadway in a safe manner, and the defects in the roadway have existed for a long time, long enough for the defendant to have become aware of them and to realize they were a hazard.
The plaintiff was injured, sought medical and hospital care and expects to suffer pain in the future.
Mezo seeks a judgment of at least $50,000, plus court costs and attorney fees. He is represented by attorney James R. Mendillo of Freeark, Harvey & Mendillo of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-645.