Berkeley County residents concerned about pothole damaging vehicles

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - After claiming to have severe damage to her vehicle,  one Berkeley County resident says she’s tired of seeing potholes being patched up and wants the infrastructure to hold.

Jodi Bogue has lived in Berkeley County for over a decade and frequently drives US-State Road 176. Bogue was driving State Road 176 near Jedburg Road heading east when she hit a pothole. She says she made it all the way home before her tire blew up in her driveway, causing her to replace her tire and rim.

“I had managed to get the groceries in and I heard a loud boom and I went outside and there was this gas hand a damaged rim.” Bogue says.

Bogue says potholes occur on US-176 often, they’re reported, and they eventually are filled in or patched up. She says her husband hit the same pothole earlier that afternoon. Her tires were only 5 months old before Bogue had no choice but to get them replaced.

Bogue says that replacement cost her $900 in damage. She says she reported the pothole the day of the incident to the South Carolina Department of Transportation and has submitted a claim. As of right now, the pothole is yet again patched up, but Bogue says she’s tired of seeing the same infrastructure problem that could get people hurt. She says a moped, a motorcycle, or even someone on a bicycle could be severely injured or thrown into oncoming traffic.

“I just want my money back and I would like the state to focus on doing what they say.” Bogue says, “If you’re going to charge me a penny to fix the roads then fix the roads. Don’t just put a little band-aid on it.”

SCDOT officials have not responded to a request for when exactly a pothole can’t be patched any longer and deemed too dangerous for drivers along with the qualifications for receiving reimbursement of pothole damage. Report a pothole, and damage claims on a state road to see if you’re qualified for reimbursement. If you have a road concern, let us know What’s Driving You Crazy.