Two people were rescued after a large sinkhole swallowed two cars in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Chatsworth as an unrelenting winter storm caused havoc in Southern California.
On Monday night, January 9, 2023, firefighters responded to a call about a sinkhole in the 11400 block of Iverson Road. Upon arrival, they found two vehicles on top of each other about 4.6 m (15 feet) below street level. The sinkhole was created due to the heavy rain from an ongoing winter storm.
Firefighters used a high-angle rope and an aerial ladder positioned over the sinkhole to lower a firefighter down to the girl and woman who were trapped in one of the cars. The two were secured with a harness and raised to the surface. They were hospitalized with minor injuries.1
Two other people, who were in the second car, were able to pull themselves out of the sinkhole before firefighters arrived. They were not injured.
The sinkhole caused significant damage to the two cars and the surrounding area, and authorities are working to determine the cause of the collapse and how to repair it. In the meantime, residents in the area are being advised to use alternate routes and stay clear of the sinkhole.
1 Massive Los Angeles Sinkhole Swallows 2 Vehicles, Passengers Rescued – NBC San Diego – January 10, 2023
