An 8-foot pothole on I-294 in Chicago didn’t just ruin commutes—it wrecked cars, too. Liz Benson’s car suffered $3,500 in damage after hitting the crater, but her claim for reimbursement was denied by the Illinois Tollway, which called it a 'naturally occurring hazard.' With extreme heat causing pavement to buckle, many are left wondering: Should drivers be responsible for these unexpected costs, or should the state step up? If you’ve ever had a close call (or a costly repair) thanks to local roads, how did you handle it? #Transportation #Chicago #PotholeProblems