BELLEVILLE — A Bi-State MetroLink train operator claims he was severely injured when an AT&T Illinois worker failed to properly stop his van at a crossing.
Jerrell Wootford filed a complaint May 4 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Illinois Bell Telephone Company LLC, doing business as AT&T Illinois & AT&T Wholesale, and Jeremy Davis, alleging negligence.
According to his complaint, Wootford was operating a Bi-State MetroLink train near the 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue railroad crossing in St. Louis on May 10, 2019. He alleges that Davis, who was driving a van owned by the defendants, failed to yield the right of way at the railroad crossing and struck the front of the train Wootford was operating.
Wootford claims he suffered injuries to his groin, leg, soft tissues, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. He further claims Davis failed to keep a proper lookout or keep his vehicle under control and that Davis did not stop "within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad until the tracks were clear."
Wootford seeks monetary and all other proper relief. He is represented by Zachary Meyer of Willams, Caponi & Associates PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 21-L-0411