A Washington State couple became temporary castaways in urban waters when a gaping sinkhole unleashed its maw beneath their Jeep in Vancouver, Washington. According to a Seattle Times report, Kevin Noel and his girlfriend Katlynn Bicknell were engulfed by the pit early Saturday morning, having detoured off Fourth Plain Boulevard to avoid hydroplaning. Unbeknownst to the couple, they were driving over a compromised water main from the 1940s, its leakage undermining the street's integrity.
As they turned a corner around 1:15 a.m. after grabbing a late-night snack, their vehicle was entrapped by the treacherous span of tarmac. While trying to escape the flooding SUV, Bicknell momentarily panicked as she opened the door, which slammed shut by the force of inflowing water, according to her account in a KGW interview. Her composure regained, and with Noel's help, the two managed to extricate themselves via the vehicle's manual windows.
The incident, which unfolded at the intersection of 30th and Washington streets, saw the Jeep slowly subsumed by the sinkhole, filling with water just like the movies, Bicknell recounted to KGW. Stranded in frigid waters up to their knees, the couple ultimately stood on solid ground again, calling 911 and awaiting emergency services. Vancouver Public Works crews raced against the clock, retrieving the waterlogged Jeep and repairing the water line by 9 a.m., ensuring the road's collapse would not spread its chaos further.
"I'm never going to drive through a puddle again," Bicknell declared, still grappling with the night's nervewracking ordeal, which, though physically surviving, left their 2015 Jeep Patriot a total loss. Praising her boyfriend's coolheadedness during the escape, she announced an added measure to their future car's emergency kit—a window breaker. The city's Public Works stated that while sinkholes like the one that nearly claimed the couple are uncommon, avoiding travel through sizeable puddles or high waters is wise counsel for drivers in Vancouver.
