Family sues trucking company after load allegedly causes collision

BELLEVILLE — A mother and daughter from Swansea are suing a Florida trucking company and one of tis drivers, alleging negligence led to a crash that caused injuries.

Laura Hartman and Emily Hartman filed a lawsuit July 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Rafael Rueda and Fort Myers Trucking, Inc., alleging Fort Myers Trucking carelessly entrusted its truck to Rueda.

According to the complaint, on Aug. 2, 2014, Michael S. Hartman was operating a Chevrolet truck on Interstate Highway 57 with his wife, Laura Hartman, and daughter, Emily Hartman, as passengers. At the same time, Rueda was operating a truck with a trailer in front of the Hartmans when it lost part of its load, which allegedly struck the Hartmans' windshield. Both plaintiffs allege injuries from the incident.