Some residents at a Canton apartment complex say they remain unable to access their vehicles days after a parking canopy collapsed onto multiple cars, leaving them damaged and trapped.
The collapse happened late Sunday night at Oak Glen Apartments on Cleveland Avenue N.W. following heavy snowfall across Stark County. At least five vehicles were damaged when the canopy fell, according to residents. Parts of Canton reported more than a foot of snow over the weekend.
Nelson Larew, a resident at the complex, said two of his vehicles remain trapped beneath the fallen awning, while a third was damaged nearby.
“Two of my cars are trapped underneath this awning,” Larew said. “My car outside of it has a pole jammed into its wheel, so I can’t even get that one out.”
Larew said snowplowing at the complex added to the damage.
“They buried that car with a plow, but the car needs repaired,” he said. “My exhaust is hanging. I wouldn’t be able to get it out anyway because it’ll rip my exhaust off trying to drive through the snow.”
He said his truck escaped major damage but remains pinned under the structure.
“My truck is currently undamaged,” Larew said. “The awning is sitting on top of my roof racks. My truck is the only one that has not sustained substantial damage out of this. All I need to do is get it off my truck high enough that I can drive off from underneath it.”
Larew said another vehicle was struck when a support leg gave way.
“My car on the edge of it, the awning is sitting on the top of my car, holding it off of my truck, and one of the legs crushed my front fender,” he said.
Oak Glen management notified residents that carport charges for February will be removed and said two maintenance companies have visited the property to develop a repair plan. No timeline has been given for when the canopy will be removed or when residents will regain access to their vehicles.
Larew said he has been advised to contact his insurance company but questions why residents should bear the financial burden.
“I’ve been told several times to contact my insurance,” he said. “Why should my rates raise because of their negligence?”
He also disputed suggestions that the collapse should be blamed solely on weather.
“Stop saying this was caused by heavy snow,” Larew said. “It’s outside of an act of God to not repair your property and then charge people to use it.”
Jordan Miller News has reached out to Oak Glen Apartments for comment but has not received a response.
