Cleveland mayor’s crash: How much will repairs cost taxpayers?

Ed Gallek
·2 min read
3

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team investigated the cost to taxpayers to repair a city SUV after a crash involving Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and repairs could cost at least $26,000.

We’ve uncovered more about what was happening at the moment of a crash that still has everyone talking.

Last week, a police officer driving the mayor put on emergency lights and went through a stop light. Then, a driver with the green light slammed into the mayor’s security detail SUV.

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The mayor’s office says parts and labor for repairs are expected to total $26,000. But, the cost could go higher if more damage is found.

We’re told the city will pay for it, meaning residents’ tax money.

The other vehicle involved also ended up with heavy damage, but we’ve learned it’s not clear yet if the city will have to pay for that too.

Police video shows, at the scene, the mayor’s driver told an investigator, “The mayor needed to get somewhere.”

He said he had to get the mayor to an emergency meeting.

So, we asked, what was the rush?

Now, we’ve found the meeting centered on a computer hack at city hall. However, that incident first had been revealed to the public four days earlier.

The mayor’s office tells us that meeting involved officials from the law department, IT, safety and the mayor’s staff.

This week, the mayor issued a statement saying he takes “full responsibility” for what his driver did trying to get to city hall.

So, we asked if the mayor ordered his driver to go through the intersection with emergency lights. A spokesperson told us the mayor did not do that.

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At the scene, an investigator spoke to the mayor in an ambulance before he went to the hospital to get checked out. But, they barely discussed what happened.

Witnesses have blamed the mayor’s driver and he could face discipline.

The crash remains under investigation.

The city SUV will be sent out to be fixed. It won’t be repaired at a city garage. Despite $26,000 in damage, the city says the SUV is not considered totaled.

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