Mother calling for change after she and son trip over sinkhole into traffic

BOSTON — The city of Boston is investigating after a Roxbury mother and her son tripped over a sinkhole and fell into traffic.

The mother, Christie Betts, says the sinkhole has been an issue for years, but the city hasn't fixed the problem.

Now, Betts wants more than a fix, and she's hoping for the city to overhaul the entire reporting system.

"I was holding his hand, and he tripped over this sinkhole that I've reported for the last two years to the city," Betts said.

Betts and her autistic son Jaedyn say they were crossing Highland Street in front of their home when the eight-year-old tripped in the sinkhole and fell into traffic.

"He flew out of my hand, and a car came fast," Betts said. "I didn't have time to think about grabbing him out of the way, so I just sprawled over him to cover him as a speed bump."

The car stopped in inch from hitting them.

The sinkhole has been allegedly an issue for over four years, but Betts says it's gotten worse in the last two after roadwork was done at the intersection.

Betts says this isn't the first time she's been injured by the sinkhole and the sidewalk, and she says she's not the first person in the neighborhood.

Betts showed Boston 25 News some reports made on the City Public Works 311 app, and their responses dating back to July 2017.

"They said they resolved it and made it safe," Betts said.

In each case, Betts says the complaint has been closed after a temporary fix, or it's differed to the water and sewer department, who then refers it back to the city.

Betts took her efforts to Facebook to raise awareness and to get the city to act in a post that received dozens of responses.

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"I tried to follow their process, and my son could've died from it,' Betts said.

The City of Boston told Boston 25 News that they're looking into the issue.

After years, Betts just wants a permanent fix to the sidewalk, and for the city to update or overhaul the 311 system to handle complaints more efficiently.

"Two people went to the hospital, and then we almost got killed," Betts said. "Enough is enough."

Cox Media Group