EDWARDSVILLE – A mother and her minor child are seeking damages after the child was struck by an allegedly distracted driver while walking to school in Wood River.
Shane Allen Reese, a minor by his mother and next friend Sarah Pride, filed a complaint on Sept. 14, in the Madison County Circuit Court against Terri McGuiggan and the City of Wood River, alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on Aug. 23, Reese was struck by a vehicle operated by McGuiggan while he was walking within the crosswalk of Edwardsville Road. The suit states McGuiggan was talking on her cellphone at the time and was driving too fast for the school zone.
The suit claims there are no signs, flashing lights or other warnings placed to give any warning that a crosswalk was immediately ahead of westbound motorists on Edwardsville Road.
The plaintiffs allege McGuiggan failed to yield to the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk and failed to swerve to avoid a collision. They also allege Wood River failed to use ordinary care in maintaining the crosswalk in a reasonably safe condition.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment in an amount of more than $50,000, plus costs of suit and for such other relief the court deems just.
They are represented by Roy C. Dripps, Charls W. Armbruster and Michael T. Blotevogel of Armbruster, Dripps, Winterscheidt & Blotevogel LLC in Maryville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-1298