PITTSBURGH — A Butler County man claims a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation flagger used his slow down sign to attack and damage his car.
The man, Mike Grenek, told Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle that he has pictures that prove his story.
“He comes at me, swings and hits my car,” Grenek said. “I was in shock.”
Grenek said a PennDOT flagman scratched his car with a metal flag, causing $1,600 in damage.
“He started at the front light and it scraped the whole way back to the middle of the second window,” Grenek said.
According to Grenek, the alleged incident happened on Route 173 in Butler County while crews were taring and chipping the road.
Grenek claimed the flagman was holding the slow sign, so he slowed but continued driving. He said that’s when he was attacked.
Grenek told Earle he filed a complaint with PennDOT and state police. Nearly two months later, he received a letter from PennDOT denying his claim and accusing him of running a stop sign.
The letter went on to say the flagman dropped the sign in a defensive attempt to avoid being hit.
“Work zone intrusions are a major concern for us,” said Joe Dubovi, PennDOT district supervisor.
Dubovi wouldn’t discuss specifics of the case with Earle, but said the flagman is still on the job.
He said even if it was deliberate, the state isn’t responsible because the employee acted outside the scope of their duties.
Earle reported the case will be decided in court.
“Obviously there are several sides to this story and I guess it will be sorted out at the magistrates office,” Dubovi said.
Grenek said on top of everything else, he got a citation in the mail charging him $338 for failing to obey a traffic sign.
“I’m beside myself,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
Grenek has pleaded not guilty and said he plans to fight the charge in court.
WPXI
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