Massive sinkhole opens up in Cleveland’s Jefferson neighborhood

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A massive sinkhole swallowed the front end of a car Thursday afternoon in Cleveland’s Jefferson neighborhood.

It happened on West 128th Street and Belden Avenue north of Lorain Avenue.

A 19 News crew on the scene says a Kia went partly into the hole and was towed out around 4:40 p.m.

The Cleveland woman who was driving the car tells 19 News that when she pulled through the intersection her car came to an abrupt stop. The driver thought she initially hit a pothole. But when she safely made her way out of the SUV she realized the front end of her car was leaning into a massive sinkhole.

Tow truck driver Chris Townsend with St. Clair Towing says he has never had a job like this, but he was up for the task, even though at one point the car appeared to slip further down into the sinkhole. But Townsend decided to pull from the back of the vehicle instead of the front and chained it down so it would not flip, and he was able to get the Kia Sportage out of the sinkhole.

The water department arrived on the scene shortly after the vehicle was towed away. It appears the sinkhole was created by a water main break, that left part of that neighborhood without water for a time.

Crews are surveying the damage and making repairs.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

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