Mom files lawsuit against driver in son’s fatal motorcycle crash
A mother whose oldest son was killed in an April 1 motorcyle accident has filed a wrongful death suit.
Deborah Nazari, 41, of Shiloh. has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Patricia Schantz.
Schantz, 48, is now demanding a jury trial.
Douglas Landers, 23, of O’Fallon was killed in the motorcycle accident on Carlyle Avenue (Illinois 161) near Shiloh Station Road outside of Belleville.
Schantz, who was driving a Nissan Armada, was not injured in the head-on crash that occured at approximately 6 a.m.
On April 28, Nazari was appointed by St. Clair County 20th Judicial Circuit Court executor of her son’s estate, and filed a lawsuit against Schantz.
Nazari is being represented by Belleville attorney Bruce R. Cook, of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin Ltd.
Schantz is represented by Paul P. Waller, III, of Walker and Williams of Belleville.
A mandatory status conference will be held at 9 a.m., Monday Aug. 8 in courtroom 404 at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville.
Nazari’s complaint states that the defendant, Schantz, was operating a motor vehicle traveling east on Route 161 in the Village of Shiloh while her son was traveling west on the same road. According to Illinois State Police (ISP), Schantz who was driving eastbound when the crash occured.
While attempting to make a left turn onto Shiloh Station Road, Schantz turned into Landers, causing a collision with him precipitating serious injuries, which ultimately led to the death of Landers, according to St. Clair County court documents.
ISP Calvin Dye Jr. said Landers died at the scene of the accident, less than an hour after the accident.
Landers was wearing a helmet, and the 48-year-old Schantz was uninjured in the crash, Dye said.
In her lawsuit, Nazari alledges that Schantz negligently and carelessly failed to keep: a proper lookout for other vehicles; failed to keep her vehicle under proper control; drove at a speed that was improper in light of the conditions and circumstances; failed to yield the right-of-way; failed to keep her vehicle in the proper lane of traffic; and, that as a direct result of one or more of these alleged negligent acts caused Landers to die of his injuries, according to the court documents.
Nazari is seeking a settlement in excess of $50,000 plus legal costs.
Grief, sorrow and permanent injuries and damages to the decedent’s next-of-kin who have been deprived of the reasonable value of his services, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, love and support were listed in the suit.
Other next-of-kin besides Nazari are listed: Lee Landers, father; Aaron Nazari, brother; Ashley Nazari, sister; and, Amanda Landers, sister.
This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 1:44 PM with the headline "Mom files lawsuit against driver in son’s fatal motorcycle crash."