LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
PARIS—The family of Teresa A. Bradley has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Edgar County and Edgar County Highway Department (ECHD) employee Dawson Watson in connection with a November 2025 crash that claimed Bradley's life.
The 18-page complaint was filed June 22, 2026, in Edgar County Circuit Court by Bradley’s daughter Jessaca Plank, through attorneys James Spiros and Danielle Cain of Spiros Law, P.C.
The lawsuit stems from a Nov. 17, 2025, collision at the intersection of Central Avenue and Wood Street in Paris, where Bradley was struck by an ECHD truck while crossing the street. Bradley died the following day from blunt force injuries to the head, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges Watson, while driving a 2024 International HV507 truck in the course of his employment with the ECHD, was traveling westbound on Wood Street before turning left onto Central Avenue. Bradley was crossing Central Avenue in the marked crosswalk with the pedestrian walk signal illuminated, the lawsuit states.
According to the complaint, the intersection is marked with a sign stating "Turning Traffic Must Yield to Pedestrians." The lawsuit further alleges Watson struck Bradley while making the left turn at approximately 14 miles per hour.
The complaint alleges Watson failed to exercise due care, failed to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, failed to obey the posted traffic control sign requiring turning vehicles to yield to pedestrians, failed to reduce speed to avoid a collision, failed to observe Bradley when she could have been seen and failed to take evasive action.
In addition to negligence claims, the lawsuit alleges Watson's actions constituted willful and wanton conduct, arguing he acted with "utter indifference to or conscious disregard for the safety of others."
The suit also names Edgar County as a defendant, alleging the county is liable because Watson was acting within the scope of his employment at the time of the crash. It further alleges the county negligently failed to conduct appropriate post-crash testing and investigation of both Watson and the county-owned vehicle before returning the truck to service.
Among the allegations included in the complaint are that Watson was not subjected to drug or alcohol testing following the collision, was not interviewed to determine whether fatigue or distraction played a role and that the truck was not inspected for potential mechanical issues following the fatal crash. The complaint also alleges the vehicle has since remained in service after the incident.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 under both the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and the Illinois Survival Act. The complaint contains eight counts, including wrongful death, survival claims and willful and wanton conduct against both Watson and Edgar County.
Speaking with The Prairie Press, attorney James Spiros said the lawsuit is about more than a single crash.
"I think it's important because when there is a case involving a serious injury or death, there are certain protocols that are to be followed and outside agencies that are equipped to conduct an investigation should be brought in," Spiros said.
Spiros said he believes the investigation conducted following the crash raises concerns, stating that additional investigative steps should have occurred following a fatal collision. According to Spiros, those steps could have included screening the driver, examining electronic devices and conducting a more extensive crash reconstruction.
"We have no reason to believe that was done," he said. "In this case, the scene was literally cleared in 11 minutes or less… To me, that is a red flag that the community is not operating in the same context as other communities."
He added that the family believes government employees should be investigated using the same standards applied to anyone else involved in a fatal crash.
"As a community member, you'd be concerned that a governmental employee is being handled and treated differently than the general public," Spiros said. "The family is very concerned about that, and I think the general public should be also."
Spiros also contends the driver had multiple opportunities to avoid the collision.
"The driver of the commercial truck had three clear warnings to avoid this catastrophic incident," he said. "One was simply looking forward out the front of the truck, the second was seeing the illuminated walk signal and the third was seeing the fixed sign that says you must yield to pedestrian traffic."
According to Spiros, Bradley had nearly reached the midpoint of the roadway when she was struck.
"Had he been looking forward and paying attention to the roadway," Spiros said, "all of those warning signs were ignored."
Attorney Danielle Cain said the family has struggled with unanswered questions since the day of the crash.
"They just haven't had answers since day one," Cain said. "They've really wanted to know what was going on in that truck, because it very obviously should not have happened."
Cain said the family hopes the civil lawsuit will provide accountability.
"They're devastated by the loss of their mom, and they want to know what happened," she said. "Why don't they have answers?"
Addressing the response to the crash, Cain said the family believes the consequences imposed so far have been inadequate.
"They're very angry. Their mom's life has been treated as a petty offense," Cain said. "They don't feel like there's been accountability, and they hope that with our wrongful death case, maybe we can get accountability."
As of publication, no hearings have been scheduled in the case. The allegations contained in the complaint are claims made by the plaintiff that have not yet been proven in court. Edgar County and Watson will have an opportunity to respond through the legal process.