County Road 32 near the Logan County Sheriff’s Office remains closed after recent storms left water covering the roadway.
The road has been closed for nearly two weeks, but several motorists have attempted to drive through the flooded section — without success.
Two vehicles were towed from the flooded roadway Tuesday alone.
So far, nine motorists have been ticketed for driving on the closed roadway.
Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds says his office will continue issuing citations to drivers who travel on closed roadways. The violation carries a $160 ticket.
In response, additional road-closed signs have been placed in the area to discourage drivers from entering the flooded section.
Wrens Towing in DeGraff says a tow bill for pulling a vehicle from a flooded area could run anywhere from $500 to $1,000 on the low end.
The towing company says the work also puts its drivers at risk because they can be exposed to unknown contaminants in the floodwater. Coming into contact with vehicle fluids can create an additional hazard for tow operators.
For drivers, the costs can quickly add up. A vehicle that has been driven through significant floodwater may be declared a total loss by an insurance company. Even with full-coverage insurance, the driver could still be responsible for a deductible of at least $500, depending on their policy.
Between the potential $160 citation, towing costs, insurance deductible and the possibility of losing the vehicle altogether, the risk simply is not worth the cost.
The Logan County Sheriff’s Office is located at 284 County Road 32, just outside the Bellefontaine city limits.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area and use an alternate route until County Road 32 can safely reopen.
