Documents: City was aware of pothole before crash

Documents show that the city of Atlanta had been warned about a dangerous pothole months before a woman's motorcycle crash. The city later agreed to pay $220,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the woman.

Diane Altland crashed her motorcycle into a large pothole on a street in northeast Atlanta in December 2009.

Court documents show that the pothole had been reported in October 2009. A metal plate was placed over the pothole. The problem wasn't fully repaired until December 31, 2009 – a few days after the accident, according to the documents.

Atlanta Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza told the Atlanta City Council that typically, metal plates are only supposed to be over potholes for 30 days.

Community members and employees of the New Horizon Senior Center say that street conditions outside their facility pose a threat.

Anne Foster, a manager at the senior center, said plates have been on the street for more than six months.

"Our buses have a hard time coming in here. Some of our seniors live on this street and walk to the center, so it's dangerous for them to walk," said Foster.

Mendoza admits that there has been a backlog of street repairs. He said that he's staffing up now in an attempt to catch up on the repairs.