West Hartford Reservoir Property to Remain Open Despite Court Settlement

The Connecticut State Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) must pay a cyclist $2.9 million in damages after she crashed into a gate on a bike path at the West Hartford reservoir. 

According to an article on the West Hartford Patch web site, the original court case was a result of an accident on May 16, 2002. Maribeth Blonksi, a Rocky Hill resident, was riding her bike on Red Road on the Farmington Avenue reservoir property in West Hartford when she struck an iron gate. 

The article states that Blonski was riding in the opposite direction of the signage at a high speed with her head down. 

She had multiple injuries, including four broken vertebrae in her neck. In the original suit she claimed there was no signage indicating the gate was closed. 

The MDC stated in the case the gate was always closed, and that after 9/11 they were even more careful of keeping the gate shut to protect the water supply. The path is accessible to walkers and cyclists through dirt paths on either side of the gate. 

The MDC said it is not planning to eliminate the public's use of the facilities and paths. However, in order to pay the costs associated with the court's decision, they may need to pass the costs on to 
their ratepayers.