Scott County, county officials named in lawsuit over traffic accident

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County, as well as nine individuals, were named in a personal vehicular injury civil lawsuit filed Oct. 21.

Timothy Q. Ingram Jr. filed a suit through his attorney, Russell D. Oliver, against Gary D. and Sharon Ratledge; Scott County; Jamie Burger, Dennis Zeignehorn, Donnie Keifer and Martin Priggel in their representative capacity of the Scott County Commission; and Charles E. J. and Marilyn A. Weber, involving an incident that occurred on Sept. 15, 2005. The Ratledges live at 610 County Highway 505 near Benton, while the Webers own a tract of land that adjoins the western boundary of County Highway 505.

In the suit, Ingram and his lawyer allege the Ratledges violated the mandates of a public safety statute in the construction of their mailbox, erected on the Webers' property.

The suit alleges that the Ratledges "negligently and carelessly designed and caused to be constructed near the west side of Highway 505 either within the boundaries of the road right of way of Highway 505 or on the tract of land (owned by the Webers), a mailbox."

Less than two feet from the road, a railroad tie was vertically erected, and fixed to the top was a large mailbox with a smaller mailbox inside the larger, while the lowermost portion rested a distance greater than 45 inches above the natural ground. That space between the large and small mailbox was filled with a material which appeared to be concrete, according to the petition.

The county is also named in the suit because they "either knew or by the exercise of reasonable care should have known was an unsafe and dangerous condition."

The day of the accident, Ingram was reportedly driving south on Highway 505 when the vehicle he was driving collided with the mailbox and vertical railroad tie. The mailbox penetrated the passenger compartment of his vehicle, striking Ingram's body, which led to serious injuries, as well as damage to his vehicle, the lawsuit alleges. The "severe and massive trauma" suffered included: face, sinus cavities, cranium and brain.

Ingram is asking for an award including all of the actual damages sustained thus far, future damages for "continued medical treatment and permanent loss of use, enjoyment and range of motion for several bodily functions," lost wages, loss of use and value of the vehicle, attorney fees and more, in a sum greater than $25,000.