Chicago Sinkhole [VIDEO, PHOTO]: Swallows 3 Cars as 40-Foot Hole Opens Up, One In Serious-To-Critical Condition, Details
A sinkhole was said to have swallowed three vehicles in the Southeast side neighborhood of South Deering on Thursday morning. One person was reportedly hospitalized.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Fire Department said that the person was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and is listed in serious-to-critical condition.
Witnesses of the scary event stated that the gaping hole opened up at roughly 5 a.m. at 9600 South Houston Avenue, and rapidly grew in size from 20 feet to 40 feet.
The first two cars were said to have slid inside it while a third fell in as the hole grew in width.
However, another vehicle was towed away from the edge, and nearly fell in, witnesses said.
One of the individuals who was injured was reportedly attempting to steer his car around the sinkhole when the road gave in. The man suffered minor head injuries.
Ola Oni stated that she was just about to head to work at 5 a.m. but hadn't gotten inside her vehicle when it abruptly fell inside the hole.
"It could have happened to me, I am lucky, I'm happy. In this kind of neighborhood, I don't think this should happen," she said.
Oni then pointed toward the intimidating hole, saying "Look at this, this neighborhood is in danger."
According to Tom LaPorte, the spokesman for the Water Department, the sinkhole opened after a water main broke, but the heavy rain could have helped contribute to it.
Officials are currently checking into the age of the water main along with the weather conditions.