A massive sinkhole that was created after a water main broke beneath an El Cajon roadway swallowed a car whole in El Cajon Monday when the asphalt gave way.
The pipe burst underneath the roadway near the intersection of N. Johnson Avenue and Vernon Way just before 8:30 p.m., the El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) said.
Thousands of gallons of water were sent rushing through the ground causing the sediment below the pavement to erode.
While ECPD was at the scene working with the Helix Water District to make repairs to the main break, a car drove around an emergency vehicle and proceeded to drive onto the roadway over the main break, ECPD said.
The ground was unstable and the weight of the car caushed the asphalt to give way, ECPD said. A sinkhole was created and the car was sucked inside.
ECPD said as the vehicle was sinking into the hole, officers were able to pull the driver out of the car. No one was injured.
Video of the scene showed the car's wheels sticking out of the hole as about three-quarters of the vehicle was buried about inside.
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The main break sent thousands of gallons of water rushing into the street. Helix Water District crews were investigating what caused the pipe to burst in the first place.
The intersection was closed through the night as crews worked to find the main break and fill the hole. At about 9:30 a.m., ECPD said the roadway was reopened to traffic.
No other information was available.
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