Resident's car destroyed by city sweeper; she's forced to pay out of own pocket
A south St. Louis woman is dealing with a frustrating nightmare after her car was smashed into by a city street sweeper, now she has to dig into her own pocket for some of the costs.
Posted — UpdatedEarlier this month, Andria Mantle was legally parked on the 2100 block of Russell in front of her home.
That's when a city tow truck attempting to tow away a broken street sweeper snapped a chain, sending the street sweeper into Mantel's car.
"The back end was demolished, the windshield was boxed in, there was glass that flew to the front of the car," she explained.
It was a freak incident, but none the less, an accident that totaled her car she bought brand new in 2015.
"I was planning to keep it for a long time," said Mantle.
The city has agreed to pay for the value of the car, but because it was new, she said it doesn't cover the cost of what she owes. She also said they wouldn't pay for a rental car for her to get to work.
"The city said they would not reimburse me for a car rental they would only do that if it was in the shop getting fixed, that doesn't make any sense," she said.
News 4 reached out to the city, a spokespersons aid they couldn't speak on the issue because it was an ongoing matter, and potentially a legal situation but they provided the city's policy on rental car reimbursement.
"The city will only reimburse a claimant for rental car costs if the city is determined to be liable for a claimant's vehicle damage and then only while the claimant's vehicle is in the shop being repaired.
The city will not reimburse a claimant for a rental car while the vehicle is in the shop being stored.
The city will only reimburse a claimant for up to $30 a day. If a vehicle is determined to be a "total loss," then the City will reimburse a claimant up to $30 a day for three days.
The city will not reimburse for any insurance the claimant purchases with the rental car.
An itemized receipt or paid invoice and a signed and notarized release is required before a reimbursement check is mailed to the claimant.
Mantle says she has had to pay more than $3,000 out of her own pocket on expenses, for something that was no fault of her own.
"I shouldn't have to pay anything, my car was legally parked at the time and they're lucky I wasn't in the car."
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