Ohio Code § 5577.12

§ 5577.12.

Any person violating any law relating to or regulating the use of the improved public

roads shall be liable for all damage resulting to any such street, highway, bridge,

or culvert by reason of such violation.  In case of any injury to such a street, highway, bridge, or culvert, such damages

shall be collected by civil action, brought in the name of the state, on the relation

of the director of transportation with respect to highways under his jurisdiction,

and the attorney general or prosecuting attorney of any county shall institute such

action, when requested by the director and prosecute it to final judgment.  In case of any injury to an improved public road, bridge, or culvert of a county,

by reason of the violations of any of the rules or regulations made by the board of

county commissioners, the damages shall be recovered by a civil action prosecuted

by the board;  in case of an injury to an improved public street, highway, bridge,

or culvert of a municipal corporation, it shall be the duty of the proper authorities

of such municipal corporation to institute an action for the recovery of such damages;

 and in the case of an injury to an improved public street, road, bridge, or culvert

of a township, the damages shall be recovered by a civil action prosecuted by the

board of township trustees.  All damages collected under this section shall be paid into the treasury of the

state or proper political subdivision, and credited to any fund for the repair of

streets, highways, roads, bridges, or culverts.