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Woman Hit by Brick Talks to ABC 6/FOX 28

Updated: Friday, February 8 2013, 07:49 PM EST
COLUMBUS - ABC6 is On Your Side, working to get answers about a dangerous downtown crosswalk.

We told you about Elizabeth Salini Thursday.

The Columbus woman was severely injured Monday, February 4th, by a loose brick that had been kicked up from a hole by a COTA bus.

Salini and her husband were standing on the southeast corner of Mound and High Streets at the time, waiting for the light to change. "I remember seeing a bus go by, then I remember an explosion," said Salini. 

That explosion was the brick slamming into her head, fracturing her skull and eye socket.

She was hospitalized for several days, and will need more medical care.  But doctors say they can't so anything more until the swelling goes down.

The family has hired a lawyer.

ABC6 did some digging and found 82 claims were filed against the city in 20-12, totaling more than $633,000.

35 of those claims were settled, with the city shelling out little more than $131,000.

22 claims were denied. Salini says it's not about the money. "I don't understand why it's right there," she said. "There are judges, lawyers, people walking on the sidewalk a lot richer than me. They could've been hit just as well. I don't know why it would take somebody getting hurt to get it fixed."

We found another hole on the other side of the crosswalk from where Salini was hurt.

ABC6 alerted the city to it yesterday, and watched this afternoon as a city crew arrived and filled it with gravel.

A Public Services spokesman says it'll be days before he can tell us how many complaints have been made about the brick crosswalk where Salini was hurt, and also its repair record.

If you need to file a claim against the city, you can do so on the City Attorney's website, columbuscityattorney.org. 

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Reporter: Terri Sullivan
Web Producer: Kellie Hanna    Woman Hit by Brick Talks to ABC 6/FOX 28