PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Two drivers say their vehicles were damaged by wet concrete while driving through a construction zone on Tyrone Boulevard.
Carissa Tatum said it happened on Sept. 16 as she was driving home in the rain. She said construction workers directed traffic into the right lane near Amped Fitness.
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“At the time we thought it was water, but it was actually a puddle. They steered us into the right lane, and the cone was blocking the other lane, and it sprayed the car,” Tatum said.
The next day, she said she realized it wasn’t water that had splashed on the Mercedes. The collision center later estimated damages could be up to $26,000.
“One place said $1,600 just for the details. Another place said basically the full amount,” Tatum said.
This week, another driver came forward with a similar experience. Rachel Atkin said she was picking up her daughter late Monday night when something happened in the Yukon.
“I stopped at a stop sign and turned around, and that’s when I realized everything was starting to shatter and crackle,” Atkin said.
Atkin said broken windows can cost hundreds of dollars to repair and the situation is a safety risk.
“Honestly, they should close the road or find another contractor…I don’t want to think about what happened,” she said.
FDOT confirmed that Gosalia Concrete is the contractor responsible for the project.
“FDOT is in contact with the contractor who cleaned the area and is also in contact with motorists who have concerns about their vehicles,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
FDOT also told News Channel 8 that drivers who believe their vehicle was damaged can file a claim directly with the contractor by emailing claims@gosaliaco.com.
The agency added that cameras will be installed in construction zones to record the work and deter false claims.
Both drivers said they were still waiting for a resolution.
