Early yesterday morning, a water main break caused significant disruptions on Indianapolis's east side, leading to a sinkhole that ensnared at least one motorist's car near East 10th Street and Emerson Avenue. Jennifer Stowers, who experienced a harrowing start to her day when her vehicle plunged into the crevice, shared her ordeal with 13News, stating, "It was a, 'Oh my gosh, like how did I miss this? What happened? How did I miss this,'".
The incident unfolded around 6:30 a.m., with Stowers recounting to News 8 the events leading up to her car's descent into the sinkhole. "I didn’t see it, it was dark out and water was rushing on the road," she explained. Stowers also noted the absence of safety cones in the area at the time of her accident, expressing her disappointment with the situation and suggesting that they "could have been set out a little faster." In the wake of the accident, Citizens Energy Group has stepped in to supply a rental car and offer coverage for the damages to her vehicle.
As crews worked to repair the broken main and restore the roadway, lane restrictions were enforced along northbound Emerson Avenue, and local authorities urged motorists to choose alternate routes when possible. WRTV reported that to address the icy conditions from the spill, salt trucks were deployed, while utility crews swiftly responded to the emergency to restore water supply to the impacted area by the afternoon.
WRTV also confirmed that Emerson Ave. had been closed between 10th and 12th Streets to facilitate repair efforts and prioritize public safety. Despite the water turning back on by 3 p.m., caution remained the word as the roadway needed extensive restoration. Throughout the incident, Citizens Energy Group worked closely with local emergency services to manage a scene and mitigate further disruptions, displaying a prompt response to an unforeseen urban hazard.
