A traveler from Mississippi is suing the Pilot Travel Center in Wildwood for negligence after she allegedly stepped into a hole near a gas pump, fell, and sustained injuries while she was refueling her vehicle.
Lisa Rhoades, a resident of Hinds County, Mississippi, filed the lawsuit against Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, in Sumter County Circuit Court on February 27.
According to the complaint, Rhoades was a guest at the Pilot Travel Center located at 744 State Road 44 in Wildwood on May 28, 2025.
While her vehicle was parked at fuel pump #1, Rhoades claims she walked around her car and unknowingly stepped into an unmarked hole in the ground that allegedly “blended in” with the surrounding area.
The lawsuit claims that Pilot Travel Center breached its duty to maintain the parking lot and walkways in a reasonably safe condition.
The complaint specifically alleges the company was negligent in failing to inspect the flooring for hazards, failing to warn guests of the dangerous condition, and failing to properly train employees to identify such risks.
Rhoades claims the fall resulted in significant scarring, mental anguish, and a loss of ability to earn money. She is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, which is the jurisdictional limit to quality for circuit court.