ENTERPRISE, Alabama (WTVY) – “We had a water pipe break, that’s what started it all,” said Ruth Merklin, a Coffee County resident.

This breach occurred on July 4 and caused severe water damage to the property.

Four days later, the city came to make repairs.

“They replaced the water main and repaired it and filled the hole,” Merklin said. “I said, ‘Maybe we can cut the driveway back a little bit more because I’m worried that the dirt will be washed away by the water just running and running and running for so many days.’ I was told it was OK, it was safe.”

But Ruth’s fears came true: Barely a day after the city began repairs, Merklin’s car was damaged.

“I was just leaving to go shopping and didn’t even make it out of the driveway,” Merklin said. “The cement gave way and the dirt just disappeared.”

The car needs to be towed and the radiator needs to be repaired. But while the city has repaired the main radiator, Merklin says they won’t do that to her car.

“I’ve talked to the city, I’ve talked to the county, I’ve talked to Goodyear and nobody wants to claim it,” Merklin said.

According to Merklin, the city conducted an investigation and concluded that the collapse of their driveway was caused by a defective county sewer.

Merklin doesn’t care who is to blame, she just wants to do the right thing for her children.

“She’s behind on her four-month vaccinations and now her six-month vaccinations,” Merklin said, speaking of her six-month-old baby. “I can’t even schedule a dentist appointment for my two-year-old, who has a dental trauma and needs to get his tooth checked.”

It’s a domino effect of problems and Merklin just wants it fixed.

“It wasn’t the best car, but it met my needs,” said Merklin. “Now I don’t feel like I have something, I feel like I have absolutely nothing.”

She hopes that the life her family now leads is only temporary.

News4 reached out to Alan Mahan of the Water Department and Michael Walters of the Engineering Department. Both declined to comment on the matter and instead referred us to their attorney and insurance company.

Merklin said she was told the cost of repairing her car would be $1,400.

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