Woman sues, says weed-covered stop sign cause of crash

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Euclid Boulevard woman has sued the city of Campbell, a property owner, a foreclosing bank and the bank’s property maintenance contractor after she said she was hurt in a car crash because she couldn’t see a stop sign that her suit says was completely hidden by overgrown weeds.

Besides the city, Judith Pelletier, of Euclid Boulevard, sued Danny Saulsberry, of 344 12th St., Campbell; Bank of New York Mellon; and Safeguard Properties LLC of Valley View, Ohio, seeking more than $25,000 in damages.

Pelletier said she was eastbound on Sanderson Avenue on Aug. 22, 2013, when her inability to see and react to the sign caused her to collide with a southbound car on 12th Street, which had the right of way.

Due to the crash, she suffered neck and thoracic sprains and a tension headache, for which she underwent medical and chiropractic care, she said.

The lawsuit, which demands a jury trial, was filed last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and is assigned to Judge John M. Durkin.

Campbell Law Director Brian Macala said a reporter’s call was his first word about the complaint, that he could not comment on it, and that the city will turn it over to its insurance carrier.

Gretchen Fri, Safeguard’s corporate communications director, declined to comment.

Saulsberry and bank officials could not be reached for comment.