Driver says pothole causes costly repairs, WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News works to get it filled

JACKSON, Tenn — A hidden costly danger lurking in the road.

“It’s been kind of a struggle,” said Michelle Holly.

A deep pothole in The Columns shopping center turned a simple shopping trip into an expensive nightmare for Holly.

“(It) popped two of my tires, I had to have a wrecker service come and tow it and I also had to have it aligned once the tires were put on,” Holly said.

Holly said the damage cost her more than $400 and when she tried to get answers from the property owners of The Columns, she said they brushed her off.

“I contacted Retail Properties of America and at first they said they didn’t own the property,” Holly said.

But then WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News made a call and got answers.

The property owners released this statement saying:

“We have reviewed the site plans and concluded we do own the road between these two locations. We have been in repeated contact with the customer over the last 24 hours since she notified us, and have been investigating the incident in order to determine the cause of the hole and are making immediate repairs. RPAI takes the maintenance of our centers very seriously and will take responsibility for any related damage.”

Late Tuesday afternoon when WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News went to check it out for ourselves, the hole was being filled.

Holly said if the company did not do it, she was going to fill it herself.

“I am going to contact them, probably in the morning and let them know, probably email them a copy of my receipt,” Holly said.

She said knowing the pothole has been filled brings comfort.

“Relieved, relieved. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who owns it, it’s just a matter at getting it fixed and that it doesn’t happen to someone else and somebody else doesn’t get hurt,” said Holly.

Holly said she is contacting the company to help pay for her damages.