Parents of boy killed at bridge sue engineer's office and village

LISBON -- The parents of a boy who was killed when he fell from a bridge are suing the county engineer's office and the village of New Waterford, alleging the bridge was poorly maintained.
Derik and Michelle Overly, 3253 Creek Road, Lot 116, New Waterford, filed the lawsuit earlier this week in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. The Overlys say the county and the village failed to properly maintain the Silliman Street bridge, which contributed to the June 22 death of their son, Derik Jr., 14.
County Engineer Bert Dawson said through a spokesman Friday that he has no comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states that Derik Jr. was riding his bicycle when he attempted to turn onto the bridge.
As a result of the bridge's poor condition and lack of a long-enough guardrail, the boy's bicycle slid off the structure and into the creek below, the lawsuit contends.
New Waterford Police Chief Dan Haueter said after the accident that Derik fell about 20 feet and suffered head injuries.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants had received prior complaints about the bridge's condition that should have prompted the bridge to be repaired or closed.
More than $50,000 in damages is being sought. The case is assigned to Judge C. Ashley Pike.