On Jan. 18, a woman unknowingly drove into a sinkhole near E. State Fair Avenue and Omira Street in Detroit. The city patched it up on Jan. 20 but had to return Thursday for a second round of work after complaints of damages to vehicles.
Bridgette Rudolph was taking her usual route on Jan. 19 when she drove her vehicle straight into a sinkhole that was covered in water. There was no signage or closures and she thought it may have just been puddle.
“Could have been a lot worse. But God is good,” Rudolph said.
WXYZThe Detroit Water and Sewerage Department explained the sinkhole was caused by a water main break due to freezing temperatures. Temporary asphalt was laid onto the problem area, but the patchwork quickly eroded, causing cars to hit their bumpers, the bottom of their vehicles and crash.
“Since (the patchwork), we’ve had a lot of rain and precipitation and freeze-thaw cycles. And if that water can get into the back fill of the hole, it can soften it up. And as traffic hits it, it starts to move around,” Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Chief Operating Officer Sam Smalley said.