Woman Says Rash Of Potholes Poses Threat To Pedestrians In South Orange
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Most everyone is aware of the damage that potholes can do to cars, but they also pose a serious hazard to people.
AS CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported, pedestrians need to watch their step.
Over the weekend, Laura Nichols, 52, said she was nearly killed on the corner of Irvington Avenue and Ward Place in South Orange.
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She was lying prone in the intersection, in the middle of traffic. Her ankle and wrist were twisted, her knee was bloodied and bruised.
"I could have died or been seriously, seriously injured," Nichols said.
What happened to Nichols was not the result of a crime or a car accident. Nichols said she stepped in a pothole while crossing the street.
"I just fell right into the hole which was about 6 inches deep and 3 feet wide," she said, "I thought one of these trucks was gonna run me over. I couldn't get back up."
It's an unusual, yet further example of the problems that the rash of potholes around the Tri-State Area can cause.
In most cases the damage is to vehicles, but in Nichols' case, it's much more personal and frightening.
"I really thought that was it. That was it for me," she said.
Nichols said the pothole problem on that street and the surrounding areas of South Orange has been getting worse, and that little seems to be done about it.
"They're all over. They're all over. South Orange and Maplewood," Carol Blowe said.
Township officials disagreed.
"We're confident we're doing the best we can with the available resources," Village Administrator Barry Lewis said.
As CBS2's cameras began shooting for this story, crews from the township showed up and started filling potholes, including the one Nichols stepped in.
Nichols is urging everyone to be mindful for potholes when crossing streets.
