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Wrongful death lawsuit filed after double-fatal accident

Posted April 26, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Families of two men killed in a southern Illinois wrong-way crash last summer have filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports relatives of 37-year-old John Bannister and 36-year-old Daryl Harton filed the lawsuit in St. Clair County court. The men were killed July 8, 2017, as they were out celebrating their anniversary. The lawsuit is against Kevin Helfrich of New Athens, who was charged with aggravated DUI resulting in death and two counts of reckless homicide.

Investigators say Helfrich was driving the wrong direction when his truck crashed into Bannister and Harton's sedan.

The families are seeking money for losses suffered and funeral and burial costs of more than $25,000. The lawsuit says Helfrich showed a "complete indifference to the safety of others."

Helfrich declined comment on the lawsuit Wednesday night.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com

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