MORGANTOWN — Lawsuits involving a West Virginia University college student who was killed while crossing the street have been stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trials over the death of Leah Samuel Berhanu were delayed by the pandemic and so far, no new date has been scheduled.
Berhanu's parents, Samuel Berhanu and Seble Wongel Hailu, filed lawsuits in Monongalia Circuit Court as co-administrators of Berhanu's estate against Michelle Gelada and a Division of Highway contractor, Davis H. Elliot Construction Company.
The complaints allege that while Berhanu was crossing the street at a crosswalk, she was struck by Gelada and killed on Feb. 1, 2018.
Berhanu's parents claim the lighting over the crosswalk was supposed to be working to ensure pedestrians were visible at night to oncoming drivers.Gelada was later charged with negligent homicide and found not guilty last November.
A claim against the DOH is also pending before the Legislative Claims Commission over the issue of who was responsible for the overhead lights at the intersection being out for a prolonged period of time.
