Deep pothole caused motorcycle wreck, suit alleges

A North Carolina man’s motorcycle ride in upper Oconee County two years ago turned to disaster, his lawsuit alleges, when his bike hit a deep pothole and he was thrown down an embankment and into a tree. To compensate for the cost of treatment and other damages, the civil court suit for Ronald Piccari alleges negligence and names Oconee County and the South Carolina Department of Transportation as defendants.  Piccari’s lawsuit was filed last week in the Oconee Common Pleas Court.  It alleges Piccari was running a motorcycle May 26, 2019 when he exited Whitewater Road and entered Cheohee Valley Road and encountered a large, deep pothole in the road.  The suit claims Oconee County and the state DOT owed a duty to motorcyclist Piccari and all motorists on Whitewater and Choehee Valley roads “to properly maintain the roadways in a proper and safe condition.”  Unspecified actual and punitive damages are sought and a jury trial is requested.