INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – There is new information about an east side couple who could have been killed when a flying manhole cover landed on their minivan.
It’s been five days since Silbia Orellana was driving down English Avenue and watched an iron manhole cover nearly fly through her windshield.
Since then she’s been thanking God she’s alive and looking for who is going to make it right. By mid Wednesday her calls hadn’t been answered.
"I expect a call," said Orellana. "I don’t expect nobody is going to come or show up."
Citizens Energy says they are taking responsibility.
"This is good news that I am going to have my car back," she said, almost crying. "Yes, a good surprise, good news."
It was bad news Friday afternoon when a manhole cover flew off a Citizen’s Energy sewer line. The 100-pound hunk of iron came flying right at the van carrying Orellana, her husband and daughter.
Did you think you were going to die? "Yes." Orellana replied.
Police investigated and Citizens Energy was told a manhole was open but apparently not told about the van being hit.
"You made us aware of this with your calls," Utility spokesperson Dan Considine told Eyewitness News.
"We have about 72 thousand manholes in the metropolitan area," He explained. "They are being run over every day by thousands of cars."
Considine said inspectors suspect the manhole cover that stuck the minivan came lose and was hit by a vehicle, popping it up into the air.
That matched with Orellana’s description of the incident.
"I see a truck driving and after the truck hit the hole, it (the cover) started flying."
The minivan is un-drivable. The hood is mangled and the windshield is broken.
A family with seven kids, a grandmother in poor health and one licensed driver is all but grounded.
Even with a borrowed SUV, she missed a doctor’s appointment, two kids missed school, another couldn’t get to work.
That has to hurt. "Yeah because you know they help me and also for them," said Orellana.
How quickly do you need another car? "As soon as possible. As soon as possible," she answered.
According to Citizen’s Energy, it’s a not a complicated claim and shouldn’t take long to process.
Considine said the utility maintains it’s manholes but can’t prevent them from occasionally popping off.