Huge 10-foot sinkhole swallows English teacher’s car whole outside California high school after road weakened by heavy rain: Excavator also overturned during repair work
- A massive sinkhole outside a Southern California high school engulfed an SUV all Wednesday afternoon, prompting evacuations
- The vehicle, owned by an English teacher at Santa Paula High School in Ventura County, was damaged after falling into the 10-by-20-foot hole.
- No one was inside at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported, but the school was canceled on Thursday ‘as a precaution’
A massive sinkhole outside a Southern California high school swallowed up an SUV all Wednesday afternoon and later an excavator trying to pull the car out.
The sinkhole opened just after noon and the vehicle belonged to an English teacher at Santa Paula High School who was not in the car at the time.
Students and teachers were fired Wednesday afternoon and classes were canceled Thursday “out of an abundance of caution,” district officials said.
Tasha Wisniewski, the teacher whose car fell into the 10-by-20-foot sinkhole, said she “couldn’t believe it” when others told her what happened.
The exact cause of the sinkhole is still under investigation, but geologists point to heavy rainfall as a possible culprit.
A massive sinkhole outside a Southern California high school swallowed up an SUV
The sinkhole opened just after noon and the vehicle belonged to an English teacher at Santa Paula High School who was not in the car at the time
Photos from the Ventura County Fire Department show the teacher’s vehicle upside down in the hole, next to a curb.
“It’s so bizarre and surreal, because it’s not really something you think is happening in this area,” Wisniewski told the VC star.
Wisniewski told the local outlet that she’s just glad no one was hurt, but is still upset.
The English teacher said the car, a 2022 Toyota RAV4c, was purchased in November.
Emergency services quickly arrived and evacuated students and staff.
a Santa Paula Unified School District spokesman said students were released around 1 p.m. and the district initially planned to reopen Thursday.
That plan was re-evaluated as local officials continued risk assessments.
“Santa Paula Public Works continues to monitor the area and has engaged an expert geologist to assess its stability,” officials said.
A decision on Friday’s classes has yet to be announced, said the district’s Julissa Vasquez.
After the sinkhole opened, some personnel were told they could not retrieve their vehicle due to the proximity of the dangerous hole.
While officials were working to pull the car out of the hole, a used excavator fell sideways into the hole.
Finally, Wisniewski’s vehicle was recovered Wednesday evening.
“It’s so bizarre and unreal, because it’s not really something you think is happening in this area,” teacher Tasha Wisniewski told the VC Star of her car being engulfed
This is the post of the Ventura County Fire Department warning residents of the sinkhole
This is Santa Paula High School in Ventura County, California
Fortunately, no students, staff or pedestrians were injured in the incident and no one was put in ‘imminent danger’.
Officials told local residents their homes and buildings were safely clear of the hole.
It is currently unclear what the exact cause of the sinkhole is, but according to geologists KTLA it may have been caused by the recent rain and weather in the area or a collapsed storm drain.
City water and street workers are working with geologists to determine the cause and current state of infrastructure in the area.