Sheffield Lake woman pinned by car files suit

A Sheffield Lake woman injured when an impaired driver crashed into her garage is suing the driver and city.

A Sheffield Lake woman injured when an impaired driver crashed into her garage and pinned her against a refrigerator is suing for more than $1 million in damages.

The suit filed Feb. 20 by Beverly Potash in Lorain County Common Pleas Court names Caitlynn Kelling, Timothy Kelling, an insurance company and the city of Sheffield Lake as defendants.

According to the filing, at 3:39 p.m. Feb. 25, 2018, Potash, who was age 61 at the time, was sitting in the garage attached to her residence in the 700 block of Harris Road when a vehicle driven by Caitlynn Kelling ran a stop sign, driving across the yard and into the garage, trapping Potash.

According to the suit,

Potash suffered injuries to multiple parts of her body.

Sheffield Lake Police Department say Potash suffered fractures to her leg and was hospitalized.

Kelling was revived with nalaxolone, police said.

Court records show Kelling pleaded guilty Sept. 18, 2018, to vehicular assault, possession of drugs, OVI and possessing drug abuse instruments.

She was sentenced to three years of community control with treatment and counseling and was ordered to pay more than $10,000 in restitution and court costs.

In her suit against Sheffield Lake, Potash claims the road represents a dangerous condition and attempts to get the city to rectify the problem have been unsuccessful.

Sheffield Lake Law Director David Graves said he has not yet reviewed the suit and declined to comment.