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Family of driver whose truck fell through roadway urges county action and reimbursement
Summary
A Bridgeton resident described a vehicle collapse into a drainage opening and asked the county for reimbursement and repairs; the board thanked the family and pledged to investigate.
During the public-comment portion on new business, resident Nicholas Haines and his family told the Board of Commissioners that on June 20, 2024 his pickup truck fell through a collapsed roadway and into water when the road gave way. Haines said he lost his truck and business tools and has been seeking reimbursement from the county for about 10 months.
Haines said the roadway that failed was a township road with a county drainage pipe underneath and told the commissioners he had received what he described as a “run around” when pursuing a settlement. Haines said he had spoken with Kevin (a county official) without resolution and that he was seeking an amicable settlement without litigation.
Haines’s mother and Downtown Ship Mayor Mike Rothman spoke in support. Mike Rothman said the township had mitigated a separate related lawsuit and that he had repeatedly contacted county public-works officials about the site over several years. Rothman told the board he had personally responded to rescue calls at the location and said the county had known of roadway damage for years.
Board members thanked the family for coming and said they were not previously aware of some of the issues raised. One commissioner thanked the family and said the county would continue to work to keep residents safe. The chair said commissioners would follow up and that staff would investigate the matter further; no vote or formal action on reimbursement was taken at the meeting.
Speakers attributed claims about prior notice and fatalities to the public commenters. The board later moved into a closed session to discuss litigation, negotiations and personnel matters; commissioners said no action was anticipated to result from that closed session.
Haines asked what steps he should take to resolve the matter; the board directed staff to review the situation and report back publicly at a future meeting.
