BELLEVILLE — A man claims he was severely injured when a pipe came loose while he was filling a tanker truck and caused him to fall 14 feet.
Matthew Schaefer and Heather Schaefer filed a complaint Jan. 4 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Red-E-Mix LLC, alleging negligence.
Schaefer Trucking, which is owned by the plaintiffs, allegedly entered into an agreement with Red-E-Mix to supply water for the trucking company's tanker trucks to be used for a hauling contract with a third party, according to the Schaefer's complaint. The plaintiffs claim that on Oct. 13, Matthew Schaefer was on Red-E-Mix's premises located on Columbia Quarry Road in Columbia. He claims that while filling one of the tanker trucks, a fitting on the water pipe separated and caused him to fall 14 feet to the ground.
The suit states that Matthew Schaefer suffered several fractured vertebrae in his neck, a "severe" head injury as well as other injuries.
The Schaefers claim Red-E-Mix was negligent in failing to secure the pipe fitting, failing to warn Matthew Schaefer and failing to inspect its water supply system.
The Schaefers seek compensation of more than $50,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Russell Watters of Brown & James PC in St. Louis and John Cunningham of Brown & James PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 21-L-0001