LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – A Lafayette woman is looking for answers after falling in a sewer that wasn’t covered properly.

Wanda Maxie walked to the store at Hollywood and University Friday morning with no issues.

As she was on her way back, she says the steel cover of the drain shifted beneath her.

“I fell face first, hands down, and my knee in the hole. Both of my legs were in the hole.”

Maxie says has still some pain but she’s okay.

She reported the busted walking path and within 30 minutes public works covered and blocked off the area.

She still worries about other sewer covers having the same issue.

“It seems like it’s unsafe to walk on the sidewalks and that’s not fair.”

After speaking with Maxie, we went to Lafayette Consolidated Government to find out what people walking, driving or even cycling should do if they come across a travel lane that could be dangerous.

Cydra Wingerter, Chief Communications Officer for LCG said, “We do have an online portal that you can access right off of LCG’s website, LafayetteLA.gov. You can go right in and make that claim right there.”

If you’re hurt or your property is damaged because of potholes or cracks in the sidewalk, there’s another step to take after requesting service.

“A separate claim over to our risk management office is filed and they will follow a standard course of action that way”, Wingerter said.

The public works department has a regular cycle of maintenance as well as capital improvement projects, but not everything pops up on their radar so if you see issues that concern public health, report it to city government.

If there’s an ongoing issue in your neighborhood or community, or you have questions that need answers, Send me an email at dialDalfred@klfy.com.

You can file a report by calling public works at 291-8517.

For more stories like this that matter to you, click here to download the News 10 app for free.

Watch live newscasts, get breaking news and sign up for push alerts – download now