Sinkhole almost swallows car after pipe breaks on Phoenix street

PHOENIX – A motorist escaped uninjured after driving into a sinkhole that opened up after a pipe broke under a Phoenix street Sunday night.

Rafael Santos was on the phone with 911 to report flooding on Missouri Avenue in front of his house near 22nd Street, not realizing there was a sinkhole beneath the water, when the vehicle wound up partially submerged.

“As I was talking to them, a car drove by and splashed me with water and I figured it’s not a big deal, but then a second car came on this side of the street, closer to the sidewalk, and that car … just drove in that hole,” Santos told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday morning.

“At that point, I told the 911 operator there was something wrong now and if they could send help right away we would appreciate it.”

Santos went to check on the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, when he “realized that my foot was going to go all the way down because there was a hole.” At his suggestion, she climbed out the window and got on top of the car.

“After that, the police came, they helped her and they called the city of Phoenix, and they’ve been working on it since last night,” he said.

The woman was uninjured but “pretty shaken up,” Santos said.

#PHXTraffic: Our crews are actively working to repair a water main break at 2208 E. Missouri Ave.

Traffic is restricted from 22nd St – 24th St, on Missouri Rd. Please drive with caution and use an alternate route if possible. 🚗 💧 🚧 pic.twitter.com/vU1IxaOBhb

— Phoenix Water (@PHXWater) June 27, 2022

Westbound Missouri Avenue from 22nd to 24th streets near the Arizona Biltmore will be closed at least until Tuesday, the Phoenix Police Department said.

Missouri is between Camelback and Bethany Home roads.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jeremy Schnell contributed to this report.

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