Man sues three drivers over accidents that led to wife's death

A Will County widower is suing a trio of drivers over his wife's 2014 death.

Dennis Carpenter, as estate administrator for his late wife Mary Carpenter, filed a wrongful death lawsuit March 18 in Cook County Circuit Court against Robert Okrasinski of Homer Glen, Francis B. Sanders of Hickory Hills, and James P. Kulesa of Mokena.

According to the complaint, Mary was driving on South Archer Road in Justice on Feb. 3, 2014, when Kulesa struck a third party’s vehicle and caused an obstruction in the road she was traveling on. While she was slowing down due to the first collision, the suit states, Sanders struck Mary’s car and when both drivers exited their cars to exchange information, Okrasinski struck Mary as she was walking back to her stopped vehicle.

Carpenter accuses Kulesa, Sanders and Okrasinski of failing to keep a proper lookout, control their vehicles, reduce speed to avoid collision and maintain a proper distance from other vehicles and/or pedestrians. He claims Mary incurred injuries that led to her death.

Carpenter seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs, and is represented by attorney Robert B. Phillips IV of Robert B. Phillips & Associates in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L002774.