EAST ST. LOUIS - A motorist claims another driver was traveling between Air Force bases when he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and caused a crash.
Michael Cooper filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Matthew Urban and the United States of America, alleging negligence.
According to the lawsuit, Urban was employed by the U.S. and driving a vehicle from one Air Force base to another base on Feb. 17, 2020. Cooper was driving his vehicle on Interstate 270 and claims he was struck by the defendants' vehicle.
Cooper alleges Urban carelessly fell asleep at the wheel, failed to keep his vehicle in his lane of travel, carelessly lost control of his vehicle, failed to be attentive, failed to obey the rules of the road and failed to exercise reasonable care in operating a vehicle.
Cooper claims he was caused to suffer severe injury and pain, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, medical bills past and future, past and future pain and suffering, disability and property damage.
Cooper seeks an amount in excess of $50,000, plus costs. He is represented by Matthew P. Young of Kuehn Beasley & Young PC in Belleville.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:22-cv-00019-DWD