Ohio sinkhole: Car swallowed, driver escapes

An Ohio sinkhole swallowed a car travelling down a street and briefly trapped the driver, who climbed out after authorities gave her a ladder.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Jul 2013, 21:42 BST

An Ohio sinkhole swallowed a car, with its driver briefly trapped inside. Picture: Reuters

Toledo police sergeant Joe Heffernan said a water main break beneath the road may have caused the sinkhole to appear on Wednesday. The hole is estimated to be at least 10 feet deep.

Police said driver Pamela Knox did not appear hurt but was shaken and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Sgt Heffernan said Ms Knox saw the vehicle in front of her start to slip into the hole but drive beyond it. He said Ms Knox could not avoid it.

Pamela Knox is rescued by firefighters. Picture: Contributed

She told Toledo’s WTVG-TV that “It was just hard to believe that this was actually happening to me … As the car was falling, I just kept calling on the name of Jesus. I just kept saying ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.’”

Officials used a crane to pull the car from the hole.