Truck falls into Ohio sinkhole, briefly trapping worker

FAIRLAWN, Ohio — A public works employee responding to a water main break in a northeastern Ohio city was briefly trapped in his work truck Monday when a sinkhole suddenly formed and the vehicle partially collapsed, officials said.

The worker, whose name was not released, was not injured.

The man was alone in the truck when he responded to the scene in Fairlawn, a suburb of Akron, around 5:30 a.m. The sinkhole formed a short time later and the man was soon able to escape the vehicle and climb to safety.

City officials estimate the sinkhole to be about 25 by 50 feet (7.6 by 15.2 meters).

According to the city’s Public Works Department, it is not yet known what caused the water main break and how long the repairs will take. The rupture caused a loss of water supply to about a dozen homes.