St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog

In court on Friday, Illinois State Trooper Matt Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving. The wreck occurred on November 23, 2007, when prosecutors say Mitchell was driving 126 mph and using his cell phone when his car struck another carrying two teenage sisters. The girls, Jessica Uhl, 18, and Kelli Uhl, 13, died at the scene of the accident after their car was engulfed in flames.

The Illinois State Police has not yet said whether or not Mitchell will lose his job; he was suspended from the force with pay after the accident. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, St. Clair County State's Attorney Robert Haida has stated that he believes Mitchell will have his license revoked.

Continue reading "Illinois Trooper Given Probation After Causing Fatal Accident" »

Last Wednesday, the family of a pedestrian who was fatally injured last year took their case to court. On September 14, 2009, 83-year-old Lionel Speidel was crossing the street when a car struck him. The car, a Pontiac Grand Am, was being driven by a 17-year-old when the accident occurred at the 3800 block of Virginia Avenue, less than a block away from the teen's home.

Investigators later learned that the teen had been under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident and he was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Speidel later died in a nearby hospital. Recently, his daughters have taken on the driver and his family, filing a wrongful death suit seeking more than $50,000.

Continue reading "St. Louis Family Sues Over Fatally Injured Pedestrian" »

Last Friday, a 10-year-old Livingston girl was fatally injured in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident. The minor, Montana Garner, was a passenger on the adult-sized vehicle being operated by her 12-year-old friend. At some point the vehicle flipped, landing on top of her head and causing her death.

Upon receiving the call about their daughter, Larry and Diane Garner rushed to the scene of the accident. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, her mother administered CPR without response. Montana was rushed to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis. She was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital.

Garner's parents claim they didn't know their daughter was riding or in any way operating an ATV. They told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that they never would've given the child permission if the parents had asked.

According to ATVSafety.gov, a site sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, children under 16 should never be allowed to operate an adult-sized ATV. Their research found that in 2008 alone, there were 135,100 emergency-room treated ATV accidents and 410 of them were fatal.

Continue reading "New Douglas Illinois ATV Accident Tragically Kills 10-Year-Old " »

Two St. Louis women were killed on Friday when the car they were riding in was broadsided after pulling into the path of an on-coming SUV. The sisters have been identified as Deneice G. English, 54, and Verna L. Smallwood, 43.

The accident occurred near Illinois Route 3 and Missouri avenue when the car the women were riding in attempted to make a left turn into the Lowe's on Missouri Avenue. The SUV was heading north on Route 3 when it struck the side of the car as it turned, flipping the SUV onto its side.

English was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, while her sister was rushed to a St. Louis hospital where she died the next morning. The driver of the car has not been identified, but reportedly has been treated and released from the hospital. Similarly, the driver of the SUV is reported to have escaped serious injury.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there have been 142 fatalities from accidents to date in 2010. In a 2008 study, IDOT notes there were 77 fatalities and 11,376 injuries related to accidents while turning.

Continue reading "St. Louis Missouri Sisters Killed in Granite City Crash" »

Last week, Medora teenager Andrew Ruyle, 18, filed charges against Shipman Mayor Daniel Barnett, 56 for an incident that occurred last July. Barnett, who also serves on the Shipman police force, pulled Ruyle over while he was driving an ATV on a public road. Ruyle claims Barnett cut in front of his vehicle at a high speed, causing Ruyle to break two fingers on the hand brake of the ATV. Aside from allegations that Barnett disregarded the teen's safety while making the stop, the suit also claims that the vehicle Barnett was operating was not marked as a police vehicle and that no sirens or lights were used while making the stop. Ruyle, who was one of two ATV operators that night, was charged with illegal operation of an ATV on a state highway but has not pleaded guilty.

As a result of the accident, Ruyle developed a staph infection in one of the injured fingers resulting in hospitalization and the threat that the finger may have to be amputated if it does not improve. The injury has resulted in 3 surgeries to date. While no court date has been set, Ruyle is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 to cover his injuries and medical expenses.

Continue reading "Medora Illinois Teen Files Lawsuit Against Shipman Mayor" »

On the evening of February 5, two cars were involved in a head-on collision in the southbound lanes of I-255. The driver of one car, Tawanda Jackson, 32, her son, 9-year-old Arnold J. "Jay" Jackson and passenger Jon L. Moss, 28, were all killed upon impact while Jackon's 11-year-old daughter, Takia, was seriously injured. The driver of the other car, Newton M. Keene, 46, was found to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.29 percent after the accident- nearly four times the legal limit in Illinois.

Keene, who was injured in the accident, has a long history of drunk-driving offenses with six convictions on file, a Missouri license that has been revoked since 1997 and indefinitely suspended driving privileges in Illinois. Late last Thursday, Keene was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and a host of aggravated drunken driving charges.

Continue reading "Family Sues Hazelwood Missouri Tavern over Son's Death in Drunk Driving Accident" »

Early Wednesday morning a Bethalto man was killed in a two-car accident near Fosterburg. The victim, William L. Gibson, 36, was driving around an "S" curve when ice and snow caused him to lose control of his Nissan Altima. The car went into a ditch on the right side of the road before Gibson over-corrected, causing the car to slide sideways into an on-coming Chevrolet Tahoe.

The driver of the Tahoe, Alton resident Adam C. Merkel, 28, escaped the accident uninjured along with his passenger, 6-month-old Emmett C. Merkel. Authorities say that Gibson was not wearing a seatbelt, causing him to be thrown into the backseat of his car upon impact. Both Merkel and his passenger were wearing their seatbelts at the time.

Continue reading "Macoupin County Illinois Car Wreck Leaves One Dead" »

Over a week ago, Toyota raised concerns when it announced the recall of 2.3 million vehicles. These concerns were validated with the company's announcement later in the week of a massive recall in China, culminating with the announcement Friday that it also intended to recall 1.8 million vehicles in Europe as a "preventative measure". By this time, the company had also issued an order to halt production of the eight-best selling models in the U.S.

Citing problems with floor mat entrapment and sticky gas pedals that cause unexpected acceleration, Toyota's recall numbers have jumped to almost 9.5 billion since late last year. Both consumers and dealers were affected when Toyota halted the sales of the 2009 and 2010 RAV4, 2009 and 2010 Corolla, 2009 and 2010 Matrix, 2005 to 2010 Avalon, 2010 Highlander, 2007 to 2010 Tundra and 2008 to 2010 Sequoia.

These actions drew the attention of Congress, prompting the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to schedule a hearing next week to investigate the government's response to Toyota's problems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an early warning system in place that provides statistical forecasting to identify trends and help signal problems such as the ones Toyota is experiencing. In this case, the system did not recognize the problem, causing the House to request extensive data reports from both the NHTSA and Toyota.

Continue reading "Toyota Expands Recall on Top-Sellers, Honda Issues Voluntary Recall" »

Late Sunday night, a man's truck clipped the back of a minivan, causing the truck to spin out of control and crash into a concrete pillar near the intersection of Interstate 270 and Missouri 370. The driver, 43-year-old St. Ann resident Mark Maessen, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the mini van, Shokouh Pritchett, 42, sustained minor injuries and was taken to DePaul Medical Center for treatment. Police would not verify whether or not Maessen was wearing a seatbelt, but confirmed that Pritchett was.

Authorities are continuing investigations and no charges have been filed. According to MoDOT, there were 19,132 accidents on Missouri interstates in 2008 and over 25,000 rear-end collisions.

Continue reading "St. Louis Missouri Car Accident Results Fatality, Injury" »

With I-70 running through both states, Missouri and Illinois residents are no strangers to tractor trailers. In fact, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) estimates that I-70 carries approximately 10,000 trucks per day across Missouri- a number that is supposed to double by 2030. In order to keep drivers safe, these vehicles are heavily regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The FMCSA regulates all aspects of the vehicles and the drivers who operate them. For drivers, the organization sets strict medical standards that state drivers have to be in good physical condition. Basic physical requirements include but are not limited to the following:
• No history of cardiac trouble.
• No current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure.
• Must have visual acuity of 20/40 in each eye, either naturally or with corrective lenses, the ability to recognize all colors of traffic signals, and a field of vision that extends to at least 70° periphery.
• Average hearing loss cannot exceed 50 decibels at 3 different frequencies.
• Mandatory drug and alcohol testing to all who seek a commercial driver's license (CDL)

Beyond the health of the drivers, the FMCSA takes other measures to ensure the safety of commercial operators and all drivers on the road. Operators of tractor trailers or other large vehicles must obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL). Drivers must have a clean driving record and pass a written and driving test in order to receive a license.

Other regulations dictate the consecutive number of hours a driver can drive as well as the minimum allotted rest times are determined by the administration. Drivers are given a 14-hour duty limit, and are only allowed to drive for 11 hours during that period of duty. Once this cap has been met, the driver is required to take 10 consecutive hours off. All of this information is recorded in a log drivers are required to keep. Currently, many logs are kept by automatic, on-board recording devices that allow authorities and fleet owners easy access to information.

Continue reading "Tractor Trailer Safety & Federal Regulations " »

Three teens remain in the hospital today after their vehicle rolled last Friday afternoon near Weidman and Clayton Road. The three passengers were ejected from the vehicle when the 16-year-old driver lost control over an icy patch and veered off the road, causing the SUV to flip. When police arrived on the scene, the driver appeared to have been the only passenger wearing a seatbelt and was found in the vehicle.

At this point, investigators do not believe that cell phones are involved in the crash. The teens are reported to be in stable condition and no criminal charges have been made against the driver.

Ice and weather condtions have been the cause of numerous accidents this year. Drivers have a duty to decrease speed and exercise care regardless of the speed limit to accommodate weather condtions.

Continue reading "St. Louis Teens Injured After Rollover Accident" »

A Missouri state trooper was tragically killed after being struck by a sport utility vehicle while assisting with a minor car accident on December 25, 2009. The incident occurred on interstate 44 southwest of St. Louis.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the trooper as 49-year-old Patrolman Dennis Engelhard, a 10-year veteran from Wildwood.

Reports indicate that Engelhard was struck by a sport utility vehicle near Eureka.
Apparently, Engelhard had been working a minor accident and was hit while walking back to his patrol car to retrieve something.

Icy weather conditions led to dozens of accidents in eastern Missouri over the holidays. The incident appears to have been weather-related.

Continue reading "Missouri State Trooper Killed While Working Minor Accident On Highway Near St. Louis." »

Madison County, Illinois, and surrounding areas reported signficant snowfall. The snow was removed quickly, but some areas remain partially snow and ice covered and are still dangerous. The initial snowfall caused several accidents involving personal injury to drivers and passengers.

In nearby Marion County, four vehicles lost control and drove off Interstate 57. Two more slid off U.S. 51 near Sandoval and Patoka. Another ran off U.S. 50 West of Odin.

There was at least one fatal accident in Macoupin County between St. Louis and Springfield. A Litchfield resident, 30-year-old Jason Starr, died when his vehicle lost control on a two lane highway, Illinois Route 16, and struck the back of a pickup truck. his vehicle then slipped into a ditch, struck a road sign and overturned. Two people in the pickup truck were not hurt.

The State Department of Transportation indicates that the roads have returned to near normal winter driving conditions. However, there are scattered icy spots on major highways and city streets.

Continue reading "Midwest Weather Causes Fatality And Numerous Car Accidents" »

An automobile accident took the lives of a young Godfrey, Illinois, couple on Sunday December 20. Nicole and Chad Thorpe, both 27, and parents to a young two year old son, were tragically killed on Humbert road near Richland Woods Dr.. It appeared their 2007 Ford Edge ran off the road, struck a tree and flipped over. Sheriff's Deputies said the vehicle was engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene.

What caused the vehicle to swerve off the road is still unknown. The Madison County Sheriff's Department is conducting an investigation into the possible cause. Both occupants suffered severe burns and were identified by dental records Monday. The coroner stated both victims died from smoke inhalation.

The car apparently was traveling north on Humbert Road and drove off the east side of the road before striking the tree. At this point, there is no evidence or report as to why the vehicle caught on fire. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), there were an average of 356,000 vehicle fires and 512 civilian deaths reported between 1998 and 2002. Per the NFPA report, 3 out of every 5 passenger road vehicle fire deaths occurred in fires caused by collisions or overturns.

Continue reading "Auto accident on Humbert Rd. kills young couple" »

A home in Collinsville, Illinois woke up to a Madison County Transit bus crushing one side of the home this past Saturday just after midnight. As a result of the bus accident, the home has been designated as unsafe to inhabit.

Homeowner June Willeford was in her second-floor bedroom when the bus hit the house. She said that she next heard her son scream from the basement, and she ran downstairs to check on him. Then, she want back upstairs and out the front door and found the bus under her side porch. Amazingly, there were no personal injuries.

According to news reports, the bus veered off the street and drove through the parking lot at Thomas Brothers Automotive next door, then over a chain-linked fence before hitting a porch on the side of Willeford's house. The homeowner has moved into a Drury Inn until the damage can be repaired. No investigative reports have been issued.

Madison County Transit is a publicly funded governmental organization that offers fixed bus routes and other services. Some of its buses will have up to 5 cameras running at all times that should depict more details of the accident.

Continue reading "Madison County Illinois Transit Bus Drives Into Home" »