EDWARDSVILLE — Truck driver Mohamed Yussuf Jama is being sued by two more passengers alleging injuries from a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in November 2017.
Lexa J. Curtis and Brianna Allen filed a complaint on Oct. 18 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Jama, Forward Air Corporation, Forward Air Inc., FAF Inc., Forward Air Solutions Inc., Central States Trucking Co., TQI Inc., Forward Air Royalty LLC, Forward Air Technology and Logical Services Inc., and Keller Construction Inc.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on Nov. 21, 2017, Jama negligently drove the tractor trailer and caused a multi-vehicle collision that included the vehicle in which the plaintiffs were passengers.
The plaintiffs allege Jama failed to keep a proper lookout and stay alert while driving his vehicle, failed to decrease speed and failed to use proper remedial actions to avoid the crash.
Curtis and Allen claim they sustained severe and permanent injuries which resulted in great pain and anguish and medical expenses.
After turning himself in, Jama was charged in April with four counts of reckless homicide – a class 3 felony – and eight counts of aggravated reckless driving –a class 4 felony.
He will remain in custody at the Madison County jail in Edwardsville, where he is being held without bond.
The charges allege Jama was driving a 2016 Cascadia Freightliner tractor trailer in a construction zone near the Hamel exit on I-55 at a speed which was greater than reasonable and proper given the traffic conditions. The charges allege Jama failed to reduce speed appropriately and caused the fatal multi-vehicle collision.
Asa result, Madisen N. Bertels, Hailey J. Bertels, Tori R. Carroll and Vivian Vu were killed, and 11 other individuals were injured in the crash.
Prior wrongful death suits filed by the families of the deceased motorists and passengers suggest Jama may have been using a cell phone or another electronic device at the time of the crash.
Curtis and Allen request a trial by jury and seek judgment against the defendants, jointly and severally, for a sum in excess of $50,000, plus costs and all other relief that is just and proper. They are represented by Gregory L. Shevlin of Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin & Cook LLP in Belleville and Edward J. Hershewe and Michelle B. O'Neal of The Hershewe Law Firm PC in Joplin.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 18-L-409