EAST ST. LOUIS - The driver of a Waste Path Sanitary Landfill truck allegedly fatally struck a pedestrian as she was crossing a Metropolis intersection.
Betty Jo Short, administrator of the estate of Betty Varnum, filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Waste Path Sanitary Landfill, LLC, Waste Path / Services, LLC and Dale W. Howard, alleging wrongful death.
According to the lawsuit, Varnum was a pedestrian in a Metropolis, Ill., crosswalk on March 27, 2020, at approximately 12:50 p.m. when she was hit by a truck being operated by Howard. Short claims Varnum suffered serious injuries that ultimately caused her death eight days later.
Howard later pled guilty to a traffic citation, which alleged he violated his obligation to yield to the right of way of a pedestrian in a crosswalk and was negligent in the operation of a truck belonging to Waste Path Sanitary Landfill.
Short claims Varnum was caused to incur medical expenses and experienced emotional distress, pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement and death.
Short seeks compensatory and punitive damages. She is represented by Stephen W. Stone of Howerton Dorris Stone & Lambert in Marion, Ill., and Dan Stratemeyer of Saladino & Schaaf PLLC in Paducah, Ken.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:22-cv-00073