This story originally appeared in My UP Now. Read more here.
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (WBUP/WJMN) — While many Michiganders are hitting potholes this spring, one resident has been compensated for it. A Sault Ste. Marie man received $800 after a pothole caused damage on his vehicle.
Malcom Cohoon was driving when he hit a pothole covered in water. The collision disconnected his vehicle’s rear strut, leading to further damage on the rim and tire.
Through the Fix MI State campaign’s Pothole Payback Contest, Cohoon was one of five drivers chosen in May to receive up to $800 — the average cost of pothole-related repairs — to compensate for the pothole damage.
“More than 150 Michigan residents have already submitted Pothole Payback entries, and each story underscores the real and growing cost of Michigan’s deteriorating roads,” said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA).
The campaign is run by a “diverse coalition of Michigan business, government, and policy organizations,” according to its website, including MITA.
“These firsthand experiences are a powerful reminder that Michigan needs sustainable, long-term infrastructure funding to protect drivers, improve safety, and strengthen our transportation system for the future,” Coppersmith said.
Michiganders can submit their personal pothole-related damage through the Fix MI State website one time per driver per month.