Car Swallowed by Sinkhole After Water Main Break in Davenport

A vehicle ended up in a sinkhole following a water main break near 12th Street and Hildreth Street in Davenport on Tuesday morning.

Check out this video below from Local 4 News. This sinkhole is BIG.

According to city officials, the water main break caused the ground beneath the roadway to become unstable, creating a sinkhole that swallowed part of a vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

The damaged water main also left approximately 75 customer connections without water for much of the day while repair crews worked to restore service. Water service was restored Tuesday evening after crews repaired the break and filled the damaged area with rock.

How Does a Sinkhole Form?

While sinkholes may seem like something that only happens in places like Florida, they can happen almost anywhere under the right conditions.

In this case, the sinkhole was caused by a water main break, not by natural underground caves.

Here's how it happens:

• A water main breaks beneath the road.
• Water begins flowing into the surrounding soil.
• The moving water washes away dirt and gravel underneath the pavement.
• Over time, a large empty space forms below the surface.
• Eventually, the pavement can no longer support the weight of vehicles and collapses, creating what looks like a sudden sinkhole.

Because the road surface often remains intact until the last moment, drivers usually have little warning before it gives way.

Drivers should continue to use caution around work zones and avoid barricaded streets while crews complete final repairs.