TOLEDO, Ohio — A common complaint in Toledo is that there are too many potholes and the damage they can cause cars. But for 76-year-old Sherry Specht, a hole in the street led to pain and problems.
Specht said she was dropping off food to her friend Sunday night. When she got out of the car, she fell into a large hole off Summit Street in Point Place.
"You will never know the excruciating pain, when your body is torn at the pelvic area one way and down straight, it's horrible," Specht said.
She doesn't live in the area, but Troy Smith does.
"The hole's been here the whole time I've been here," Smith said. "The orange cone has been inside of the hole. It's a safety hazard, I'm sure."
Even though Specht doesn't live nearby, she said the hole needs to be addressed.
"I'm no longer worried about my pain," Specht said. "I'm worried of a little child in this daycare center climbing over that fence and getting out and falling in a hole."
Specht is referring to a daycare center not far from the hole in the 4500 block of Summit Street.
She said she has been camping out near the hole since Friday morning making calls. She said she called Engage Toledo twice.
"The best I could get out of that is within the next two days somebody would be out," Specht said. "No, I'm concerned this hour, this minute. Look at me, I can't even stand without a walker. What would it do to someone else?"
She didn't plan on leaving until someone did something.
WTOL 11 reached out to the city a little after 3 p.m. Friday afternoon and within a couple hours, the hole was being filled.
City officials said it is a private driveway where the hole is, but because of safety, they filled it.
As for Specht, it was a sight she was happy to see.
"I do thank them, as I thank you for helping me," Specht said. "It means a lot to me. I can go home and rest mentally, and just suffer physically."
When it comes to who owns the property, that is something WTOL 11 is still working to figure out.
If there's something you need addressed, you can contact the Call 11 for Action team at 11investigates@wtol.com.
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