PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — An apparent water main break caused a sinkhole in central Phoenix early Monday morning. Arizona’s Family arrived at the scene after midnight, where it appeared a blue car got stuck after a sinkhole opened up near 22nd Street and Missouri Avenue, north of Camelback Road. A City of Phoenix spokesperson says the street will be closed between 22nd Street and 24th Street throughout Monday.
One man, who lives near the sinkhole, said he noticed his front yard underwater on Sunday night. He walked outside and called 911 after realizing the water was coming from the road. “As I was talking to her, a car went by on the outer lane and splashed me with water,” Rafael Santos said. “A few seconds later, another car came in the inner lane and she had no idea there was anything there. She went right inside the hole.”
Santos said he checked on the driver, who appeared to be in shock but not physically hurt. “She was trying to call family or somebody and I said, ‘just do it after you get out please, I don’t know how much time we have. Just get out and you can do whatever you need to once you’re out here,’” Santos said. He said the driver crawled out of the passenger window and onto the roof of her car before jumping to safety.
The City of Phoenix said the pipe they repaired was installed back in 1958. They said typically, pipes last 60-75 years of usage before needing to be replaced. Some homes in the area also lost water service, and city officials say they’re working quickly to restore service to the affected communities.
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