The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • 11

CljcJlcralDiallaDium TIGER WOODS STROKE BACK 3-way tie for lead in Phoenix Open Page 4B More Southwest Michigan news on 2B and 3B. SECTION Friday, January 26, 2001 Berrien Trial Court WEST IGAN Plaintiff describes steering problems, crash By SCOTT AIKEN H-P Stal Writer I 'if; v. men. Michael Bertuca. who was thrown from the vehicle, suffered a traumatic brain injury and more than 30 fractures, according to testimony.

Anthony Bertuca also sulfcred many fractures and other injuries, scarring and disfigurement. Judge Lynda Tolcn is hearing the case. Besides GM, the defendants are GM's Chevrolet Division and the Pastrick dealership, which is located in Benton Township, The defendants deny any negligence, saying the Blazer is a safe vehicle. They contend that ice on the road caused Anthony Bertuca to lose control. Anthony Bertuca said he bought the Blazer in Decern-; ber 1993.

the fourth or firth model of that vehicle he had bought at Pastrick. Bertuca broke down on the witness stand while watching a videotape of the crash scene and the wrecked Blazer made several days after the accident. He said the crash permanently affected his brother, who has memory loss and other problems. "He's totally different than the way he used to be," Anthony Bertuca testified, Bertuca said he thinks about the crash when he looks at See CRASH, page 2B ST, JOSEPH A Coloma man who was critically injured when his Chevrolet Blazer left a Pennsylvania road and rolled down a steep hillside testified Thursday that the vehicle had steering problems before the crash. In the second week of a negligence lawsuit trial involving General Motors, Anthony Bertuca told a Berrien Trial Court jury that the 1994 model sport utility vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs three times before the crash on Feb, 15, 1995.

Bertuca, who is seeking damages for injuries he and his brother suffered in the long plunge, said Frank Pastrick Chevrolet assured him after the third trip to the shop that everything was fine, However, Bertuca said he was concerned and wanted the dealer to exchange the vehicle for a new one. "I was paranoid," said Bertuca, who claimed the vehicle sometimes "wandered," "You couldn't keep it going straight all the time," he said. Bertuca, 37, and Michael Bertuca, 35, allege that a steering system flaw cuuscd the vehicle to go off the road and crash down an embankment, severely injuring both V. 1 H-P photoi by Brim Mdohor DEFENSE CHALLENGE: Defense lawyer Cheryl Bu9h shows a Jury a picture of Michael Bertuca standing straight at a wedding several years after he suffered a brain Injury and more than 30 fractures In a 1 995 car crash. One claim In an ongoing trial seeking damages from General Motors Corp.

and other defendants Is that the accident left him unable to straighten up or stand for long periods. ANTHONY BERTUCA Describes 1995 crash Zl St. Joseph St. Joseph -63 road work continues Brewpub owner declines offer Detours to remain in effect 'til December fi I still want to sell lit badly, but I don't want to give it Michael Prittinen By SCOTT AIKEN H-P Staff Writer BY MICHAEL ELIASOHN H-P Business Writer ST. JOSLPII The fate of the Depot Brewpub Restaurant will have to wait a while longer to be decided but maybe not too much longer.

The restaurant overlooking the St. Joseph River I larbor closed last Scptem-hcr and drew a high bid of $1.5 million at an auction Tuesday, well below the $4.15 million asking price. Owner Michael Prittmcn then had 4S hours to decide whether to accept the bid, which came from William and Jody Linkficld, owners of a restaurant in Grand Rapids. Pnttinen told The Herald-Palladium Thursday afternoon he will reject the Linkficlds' bid, but his Realtor was still talking to them about increasing their offer, He said three other groups of potential buyers toured the restaurant and brew pub Thursday, so there could be additional olTcrs. I le said two of the groups were interested previously and arc interested again, now that they know they can get it for less than the original asking price.

He said1 the third potential buyer is new and first learned about the Lighthouse Depot being available front reading the ar tide about the auction in Wednesday 's I Icrald-I'alladiuni. Pnttinen, who described himself a "motivated seller." "I still want to. sell it badly, but I ant to it away." He said a sale could be made within a' few days. Prittinen said the SI 5 million is less than but close to what lie owes a bank for a loan for the restaurant, but the rest of the money invested is his own. He said Tuesday the original asking price was about what he and his two ong-.

inal partners-had invested, lie later bought the partners' shares in the venture. The three-floor restaurant was constructed in Ml as a federal government depot to supply on -Lake Michigan. Aw HI? 1 3 -Lansing LaSata to be vice chair on appropriations panel ST. JOStiPII Crews are completing demolition of the bridge carrying Michigan 63 over the lidgewa-tcr area and arc putting fill in place for a much shorter replacement structure, officials say. An unusually snowy December may have put workers slightly behind schedule on the two-year, I ft million project, said Lucio Ramos, an engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

"It's been somewhat of an unusual winter, and that's slowed them down a bit," Ramos said, "But we should be able to catch up," The project began in November as M-63 was closed just north of the St, Joseph River bridge, Northbound traffic is detoured west onto Upton Drive, and southbound traffic through Benton Harbor, The 700-foot bridge, known commonly as the "Whirlpool bridge," is being torn down because it no longer serves a purpose, The bridge once carried traffic over factories, but they were torn down years ago and the Ldgcwater property is being redeveloped for commercial, residential and recreational use, The long bridge is to be replaced with a shorter span to carry traffic from the St, Joseph River bridge and over the CSX Transportation Co, railroad tracks, then to ground level. The second part of the project Involves removing the Klock Road interchange, It is to be replaced with a grade-level crossing controlled by a traffic signal. M-63 will be widened at points, It will also provide access to the homes and businesses being built in Edge-water, a rejuvenated brownficld area. The project is to be completed in December 2002, and officials say it will vastly improve the main traffic corridor on the north- side of the Twin Cities, Ramos said many tons of steel and concrete have been removed in demolishing the old bridge. Pilings are being driven for the new structure, and crews have begun bringing In fill for the roadway, "They've started on that, but there's a long way to go," Ramos said.

Detours will remain in effect until M-63 opens in December 200 1 The road will remain open until April 2002, when work 01 the Klock Road interchange begins, At that time traffic will be diverted onto the Klock Road access ramps to allow the project to be completed, By MIKE RUPERT H-P Staff Writer LANSING Berrien County now has two legislators in powerful posi-. tions on committees that decide how state funds are spent. State Rep. Charles LaSata has been chosen to serve as vice chairman of the House Appro LaSata said it was unusual for second-term representative to receive such an esteemed, Btit he said people who have shown leadership as moving up much faster. "I learned a great deal during my first term," said LaSata.

who narrowly missed being elected Speaker of the House in December. "I am pleased that my colleagues have placed their trust and faith in me to assist in leading the entire committee." LaSata said he will continue to.be fiscally conservative, but will worfc hard to prov ide money or I he most important issues facing Michigan, including education. "With the tax cuts that we have puj into place during the last couple of years the revenues are slaying somewhat flat for the state," he said. going to be a challenge to maintain funding at existing levels for current programs as well as meet Ihe challenges of future initiatives and goals, "But education is one of our top priorities and I expect those initiatives to continue being funded at high levels." Other committee and subcommittee positions are expected to be chosen sometime next week. priations Committee.

"I'm honored that leadership recognized my efforts and actions last session in the committee and chose to reward me with this position," LaSata said. State Sen. Harry Oast, R-St, LaSATA Joseph, is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "With Senator Gast chairing appropriations on the Scnafc side and my vice chair position on the house side, fhc interests of Southwest Michigan should be very well served." LaSata said. Before the era of terms limits, M-P photo bi Don Campbell BIQ IRON; Workers lower steel girders Into place for the Michigan 63 reconstruction project In St, Joseph, The $16 million project, to be completed In December 2002, will radically change the main access road on the north end of the Twin Cities,.