BELLEVILLE — A driver is being accused of driving the wrong way on a St. Clair County road and causing a crash in which two people died.
David E. Harton and Elizabeth A. Harton, special administrator of the estate of Daryl E. Harton, deceased, and Lon Bannister and Barbara Bannister, special administrator of the estate of John P. Bannister, deceased, filed a complaint April 16 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Kevin Helfrich alleging he negligently drove his vehicle while intoxicated.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on July 8, Daryl Harton and John Bannister died due to the injuries they sustained in a collision caused by the defendant. The suit claims the defendant entered the wrong entrance ramp for Illinois Route 15, driving his vehicle the wrong direction. The plaintiffs hold Helfrich responsible because he allegedly negligently caused a head-on collision with decedents vehicle.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek damages in an amount greater than $25,000, plus interest, costs and any further relief as the court may deem just and equitable. They are represented by Noel E. Sevastianos and James E. Beal of Rogers, Sevastianos & Bante LLP in St. Louis and Craig Anthony Schlapprizzi of Donald L. Schlapprizzi PC in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 18-L-264