PHILADELPHIA– A sinkhole opened up under a Philadelphia neighborhood street on Tuesday afternoon after a water main snapped underground, swallowing one car and nearly claiming another.
Luckily, no one was injured.
FOX 29 Philadelphia reported that a 6-inch water main broke just after midday, which led to the massive sinkhole in the city’s Port Richmond area.
FOX 29 reporter Steve Keeley said he spoke with a neighbor who said they just heard a big bang and feared their whole house was about to cave in next.
The SUV that fell into the hole belonged to the wife of Philadelphia police officer Steve Williams, Keeley said.
Williams said he found out about the ordeal when he got a frantic call from his wife.
“My wife called me at work – I couldn’t understand what she was saying,” Williams told Keeley.
But Williams appeared to be taking the unusual situation in stride.
“I’ve been a police officer for 32 years,” Williams told Keeley. “It’s part of the deal of living in Philadelphia, no big deal.”
Officials had the street blocked off in both directions while they evaluated the damage.
About 30 homes near the break lost water, according to FOX 29.
Repair crews were working to fix the water main break and then get the car dug out of the hole.
