OPINION ISSUED MARCH 24, 1988

WALTER M. SOUTH
VS.
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS

(CC-87-160)

Claimant appeared in person.
Andrew Lopez, Attorney at Law, for respondent.

PER CURIAM:

On May 19, 1987, at approximately 12:00, noon, claimant was driving on
Route 61/5 when
his vehicle struck a railroad spike located in the road. His vehicle, a
1984 GMC truck,
sustained damages in the amount of $54.60. Claimant seeks an award for
the damage done to
the tire of his vehicle.

Claimant testified that he was travelling south on 61/5 enroute to his
home. He was travelling at
approximately 25 mph and stated that the road was wet, due to rain,
previous to the accident.
He explained that the highway is a one-land road, and he had to exit the
travel portion of the
road to permit oncoming vehicles to pass. As he left the road for an
oncoming vehicle, his vehicle
made contact with the railroad spike. Claimant alleges that the
respondent had pulled ditches or
graded the road approximately a week prior to this accident and ...
"threw up these gravel."
Claimant's wife, Kathryn F. Sough, confirmed the testimony of claimant.
In addition, she stated
that she, her husband, and her daughter picked up 25 spikes in the
afternoon of the accident or
perhaps the next day. She described the spikes as about six, maybe
seven, inches in length. The
State is neither an insurer or guarantor of the safety of motorists on
its roads. Adkins vs. Sims,
130 W.Va. 645, 46 S.E.2d 81 (1947). In order for the respondent to be
found liable for the
damage sustained, proof of actual or constructive notice of the defect
must be shown. Since there
was no proof in this case that respondent had notice of the defect, the
claim must be denied.

Claim disallowed.