Lake Villa woman impaled by tree branch sues tree owner

A Lake Villa woman is suing the parent company of Vista Health System Surgery and Treatment Center in Lindenhurst for not properly caring for the tree that injured her during a storm last fall. Helen Miller, 42, was driving east on Grand Avenue when she was impaled by a branch from the tree that was toppled by heavy winds during an Oct. 26 thunderstorm.Miller is officially suing Waukegan Illinois Hospital Company, LLC., which owns the Vista Health System Surgery and Treatment Center at 1050 Red Oak Lane. Vista officials contacted Wednesday would not comment on the lawsuit. Miller was not available for comment Wednesday.High winds toppled the tree about 7:45 a.m. and it landed on Miller#146;s SmartCar as she drove to her job as an art teacher in Waukegan Unit District 60.A branch from the 65-foot maple pierced the vehicle#146;s windshield and plunged about 12 centimeters into her stomach, and pinned her inside the car. The branch missed vital organs, but caused some permanent and serious injuries, the lawsuit contends.Miller alleges in the lawsuit that Vista Health System Surgery and Treatment Center failed to properly maintain the tree on its property near the intersection where the accident occurred. The tree has since been removed, the lawsuit states. Miller said during an interview after she was released from the hospital in November that there was no physical pain following the crash because a previous heart condition left her stomach numb.After she was removed from the car by the Lake Villa Rescue Squad, she was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she spent two weeks recuperating. Miller still has the two-foot long tree branch that pierced her abdomen.