LANSING, Mich. – As pothole season continues to damage vehicles and frustrate drivers, Fix MI State has named the first five winners of the Pothole Payback contest, providing cash assistance to cover costly repairs caused by Michigan’s deteriorating roads. The announcement comes as pressure builds on the State Senate to pass a long-term, equitable, and sustainable road funding plan that addresses chronic underinvestment in infrastructure.

The April winners and their stories reflect the widespread nature of Michigan’s road crisis:

• Dequontay Fisher of Flint (Senate District 27) hit two massive potholes on Milbourne Avenue, blowing a strut and bending a rim just turning off his street. In State Senator John Cherry’s district, 31.3% of roads are in poor condition.
• George Mathew of Allen Park (Senate District 1) was driving home after the birth of his daughter when he hit a pothole on an off-ramp, tearing his tire and denting a wheel. In State Senator Erika Geiss’s district, 35.9% of roads are in poor condition.
• Jake Losey of Kentwood (Senate District 29) was one of more than a dozen drivers whose vehicles were damaged by a crater-sized pothole, blowing two tires and denting both wheels. In Senate Majority Leader Brinks’ district, 31.1% of roads are in poor condition.
• Marie Smith of Traverse City (Senate District 37) had her rear shocks and sway bar links taken out by a swath of potholes, despite driving slowly. In State Senator John Damoose’s district, 33% of roads are in poor condition.
• Michael Shine of Detroit (Senate District 3) hit a deep pothole on the Lodge ramp around 2 a.m. and had to abandon his car after discovering he was riding on the rim. In State Senator Mary Cavanagh’s district, 32.5% of roads are in poor condition.

Each winner will receive up to $758, the average cost of pothole-related repairs in Michigan, according to the 2024 TRIP Report.

“Hundreds of Michigan residents have submitted Pothole Payback entries, and every story we receive is a powerful reminder of how urgently we need to fix our roads,” said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association. “These winners represent thousands of residents who are paying the price for inaction on road funding. It’s time for the Michigan Senate to step up and pass a long-term road funding plan. Every delay hurts families, workers, and communities.”

Fix MI State’s Pothole Payback contest continues through June, selecting up to five residents each month to receive financial support for pothole-related repairs.

Residents can enter the contest by sharing their story and photos through this form. Full contest rules and eligibility details are available at FixMIState.org/potholepayback.