Man Was Stuck In SUV As It Dangled In Sinkhole For A Frightening Hour
LAFAYETTE, Colo. (CBS4) - Crews in Lafayette on Tuesday plan to fill in a massive sinkhole that nearly swallowed a man and his vehicle.
Aurelio Zambrano was driving to work in his SUV at 5 a.m. on Monday when the frightening incident occurred.
Zambrano told CBS4 it was dark and he didn't notice the sinkhole in the road that had just formed until his SUV was hanging halfway over the edge.
"The first wheel stopped and I don't know if I can move it and after that my second wheel go into to the ground," Zambrano said.
The sinkhole is located at 700 block of East Cleveland Street and it's 30 by 15 feet wide and about 20 feet deep.
Zambrano opened his door and then realized how deep the sinkhole was. He moved to a different part of his car and called 911, but he says he dangled there for nearly an hour before rescue crews were able to safely pull him out.
"I'm lucky," said Zambrano, who was happy to be back home with his wife and two daughters on Monday night.
It's likely the fluctuating temperatures on Colorado's Front Range in recent weeks had something to do with the sinkhole opening beneath the road.
City officials also said the sinkhole occurred near where the Simpson coal mine was located, which was in production from 1888-1926. It stretched 200 feet underground.
Zambrano said he couldn't think of anything but his family the whole time he was stuck in his car and could feel the road crumbling beneath him.
"When I heard the cement go into the ground I could hear water," he said.
Donna Carbone, who lives on the street, said she heard the SUV crash into the hole and get stuck. She said Zambrano did a good job of not panicking while he was stuck in the car.
"There was this guy -- very calm -- just sitting there," she said.
