Sinkhole swallows moving car in northwest Ohio; shaken driver escapes with help of ladder

July 4, 2013 at 2:16AM
A sits car at the bottom of a sink hole caused by a broken water line in Toledo, Ohio Wednesday. The driver, Pamela Knox, 60, of Toledo, was shaken up and didn't appear hurt but was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
A sits car at the bottom of a sink hole caused by a broken water line in Toledo, Ohio Wednesday. The driver, Pamela Knox, 60, of Toledo, was shaken up and didn't appear hurt but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. (Toledo, Ohio Fire and Rescue Department via AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

TOLEDO, Ohio — A northwest Ohio sinkhole has swallowed a car traveling down a street and briefly trapped the driver, who climbed out after authorities gave her a ladder.

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

Police say driver Pamela Knox didn't appear hurt but was shaken up and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Heffernan says Knox saw the vehicle in front of her start to slip into the hole but drive beyond it. He says Knox couldn't avoid it.

Officials used a crane to pull the car from the hole. Repairs to the road are expected to take days.

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