Navigating downtown traffic is stressful enough without having to worry about the pavement literally crumbling beneath your tires. Unfortunately for one Ohio driver, this is exactly what happened when a massive sinkhole completely devoured his vehicle.
The incident happened early Sunday morning in the heart of downtown Cleveland. According to a live report from 19 News, a massive rupture occurred beneath the asphalt at the intersection of West 3rd and St. Clair Avenue, right behind the Justice Center.
The culprit was burst underground steam pipe. Cleveland’s downtown infrastructure utilizes a network of subterranean pipes to deliver steam to various buildings for heating and production. When this particular pipe failed, the resulting pressure and moisture caused the street above to buckle and collapse, creating a dangerous hole.
A Slow-Motion Disaster Caught on Camera
Surveillance footage released by the city shows the sinkhole forming in real-time. The video captures thick plumes of steam billowing out of the asphalt, partially obscuring the intersection. Over the next few minutes, the small hole steadily widens as chunks of pavement plummet into the void…