Talk about a rare and heart-stopping moment! In the early hours of Saturday morning, something quite extraordinary happened at the intersection of 30th and Washington streets in Vancouver, Washington. According to a news report from KGW, Katlynn Bicknell and her partner, Kevin, had a brush with danger when their car suddenly fell into a sinkhole. Fortunately, this alarming situation turned out okay, with both emerging safely from what could have been a much more serious incident.
According to Bicknell, a resident of La Center, Washington, the event took place around 1:15 a.m. They were totally thrown off by seeing water on the road – that's not something you expect, right? But as they turned the corner, their car just took a sudden nosedive into the sinkhole. Bicknell said it was like a rollercoaster drop – totally abrupt and really startling.
In a moment of panic, Bicknell attempted to exit the vehicle through the door, which unfortunately struck her leg as it slammed shut. However, with Kevin's assistance, who maintained his composure throughout the ordeal, both managed to escape the sinking car, finding themselves knee-deep in water.
Once they reached safety, Bicknell called 911. The couple then waited for a tow truck, observing that the surrounding road was visibly unstable and continuing to buckle in various locations. The sinkhole, situated centrally on the roadway, was estimated to be around four to four-and-a-half feet deep and was quickly filling with water.
Reflecting on the incident, Bicknell expressed gratitude that they, rather than someone potentially less able to respond quickly, encountered the sinkhole. Despite the traumatic experience, both Bicknell and Kevin emerged mostly unharmed, with Bicknell sustaining only minor bruising from the car door.
Their vehicle, however, was not as fortunate and was deemed a total loss. Bicknell highlighted the importance of their car having manual windows, which greatly facilitated their escape, and humorously noted that their next vehicle would definitely feature manual windows as well.
The Vancouver Police Department reported that the cause of the sinkhole was a broken water main, which compromised the stability of the road. The intersection was closed for repairs by the Vancouver Public Works crews, who also shut off the water service. The water main leak was fixed by approximately 10 a.m., and the sinkhole was subsequently filled.
Bicknell concluded by sharing the lasting impact of the incident on her, stating she would be wary of driving through puddles in the future. This event serves as a reminder of the unexpected dangers that can arise on seemingly normal roads and the importance of staying alert and responsive in unforeseen situations.
