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Giant sinkhole in Texas swallows pickup with driver inside before he crawls free

By the time of the collapse, water was already pooling in the hole.

A section of road is destroyed by a large sinkhole, with a person standing nearby observing the damage.

Photo Credit: iStock

In Texas, a driver safely exited his pickup after the vehicle fell into a giant sinkhole that suddenly opened in the middle of an intersection.

What happened?

At Central and East Drive, a Ford F-150 4x4 dropped into a sinkhole estimated to be about 20 feet across and 20 feet deep, KFDM reported. Police were called to the scene at around 2:15 a.m.

By the time of the collapse, water was already pooling in the hole, and a broken water main kept pouring more into it, making the roadway resemble a small pond. The driver nevertheless crawled out of the truck and was reported safe.

The pickup ended up resting at about a 45-degree angle, with its front end pressed against a large piece of concrete at the bottom.

According to KFDM, Spanky's Wrecker brought in both a large wrecker and a smaller recovery vehicle, and the truck was removed by about 8 a.m.

Why does it matter?

A broken water main does not just interrupt service — it can also erode the soil beneath pavement and leave entire stretches of road unstable.

That can mean detours, property concerns, water service disruptions, and greater risk for anyone traveling through affected areas before crews can respond. A sinkhole of this size can also lead to costly emergency repairs and inspections beyond the immediate collapse site.

In this case, an unassuming driver went from passing through an intersection to being trapped in a partially submerged truck.

What's being done?

KFDM reported that water service returned later in the afternoon. City crews are expected to inspect the area and repair the broken water main that the city said caused the sinkhole.

City Manager Chris Boone said, "We have older infrastructure and so things happen. You know, we've had a long period of rain, and a long period without rain. So that wreaks havoc on the soil. It affects the infrastructure. The good news is — no one was hurt."

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