Illinois Car Accident Lawsuit: Amended Personal Injury Complaint Accuses State Trooper of Talking on Cell Phone and Driving 120 Mph
A Fayetteville couple that were injured in a November 2007 Illinois car accident with a police car have filed their amended complaint suing the state trooper that was involved for personal injury. Kelly and Christine Marler submitted their personal injury lawsuit to the St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Their Illinois personal injury complaint accuses trooper Matt Mitchell of negligence for driving his police car at 126 mph, losing control of the vehicle, crossing the Interstate 64 median, and causing a multi-vehicle crash. Killed in the Illinois traffic accident were two sisters from Collinsville—18-year-old Jessica Uhl and her sister 13-year-old Kelli. The girls’ family is suing Mitchell and the state of Illinois for wrongful death.
Christine, who was pregnant at the time of the catastrophic Illinois auto accident, went on to deliver a healthy baby a few weeks after the collision. She did, however, sustain leg and knee injuries from the accident. Her husband Kelly sustained wrist injuries.
Mitchell sustained serious leg injuries during the Illinois auto crash. He was reportedly driving to the site of an unrelated motor vehicle collision when his car was involved in the auto crash that killed the Ulhs and injured the Marlers. This is not first time that he has been involved in an auto collision while doing his job. Following a low-speed Peoria accident in 2003, a $1.3 million judgment was made against the state after Mitchell was found at fault for causing the car crash.
Following the 2007 multi-vehicle accident, Mitchell was relieved of his duties but continues to get paid a salary. The assistant district attorney representing Mitchell is asking the circuit court to dismiss the case, claiming that it should be filed in the Illinois Court of Claims. Judge Patrick Young will hear arguments about this matter next month.
Lawsuit alleges trooper was on cell phone before crash that killed two Collinsville sisters, BND.com, June 5, 2009
Trooper in crash was speeding, on cell phone, suit says, SLT Today, June 7, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Read the Marlers' Amended Complaint (PDF)
