CHARLESTON — A couple is suing several road construction companies claiming that a temporary roadwork area wasn't properly labeled.
Bizzack Construction, TRC Engineers, Stantec Consulting Services, Highway Safety Inc. and the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways were all named as defendants in the suit.
Farhan Abdille and Shukri Abdille claim on Sept. 20, 2020, Farhan was involved in a single tractor-trailer incident because of the outrageous temporary traffic control set-up by the defendants along U.S. 35, approximately one-half mile south of the Buffalo Bridge, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
The Abdilles claim there were multiple incidents that occurred in the area both before and after their incident in that same section of the roadway due to the construction project.
Farhan Abdille was driving the tractor-trailer when in the area and came upon stopped and/or extremely slowed traffic while he was in the process of navigating a sharp turn on a downhill grade. To avoid colliding with the stopped traffic, he struck the temporary concrete median barrier and overturned the vehicle.
Farhan Abdille suffered severe and life-threatening injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle and life-flighted to St. Mary's Medical Center before he was transferred to Columbus, Ohio, and had to have his left arm amputated, according to the suit.
"As he was approaching the subject construction zone, Mr. Abdille was not provided with any advance warning of stopped or slowed traffic or construction ahead prior to entering the sharp curve while traveling on a steep downhill grade," the complaint states. "There were no signed warning large truck or tractor-trailers of the steep grade and sharp curves ahead."
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are represented by J. Ryan Stewart of Bailey Javins & Carter in Charleston; and T. Keith Gould of The Miley Legal Group in Clarksburg.
The case was assigned to Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard.
Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers: 22-C-789
