Sinkhole Swallows Car on Northwest Side

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Aug 20, 2011 5:30PM

A man was driving his car through the intersection of Elston and Foster avenues in Sauganash, when his car tumbled into a sinkhole. The 66-year-old driver suffered bruises and neck pain, but fortunately, he was wearing his seatbelt. The Tribune writes:

"I saw him actually climb out of the hole on a ladder," said Joe Springer, whose bar Rabbit's sits at the corner. "The cops told me he was okay."

Tom LaPorte, the water management spokesman, said the 10-to-12-foot hole was believed to have developed after a water main broke under the street and the water washed away the layers of dirt supporting the road.

The car was lifted out of the hole with a crane, and crews are working on the damaged pipe.