Northern Ontario man describes shock of driving into a sinkhole
Mike Fortin of Timmins has had a rough couple of days. He was coming home during the wee hours of Monday morning after being away for the weekend.
Only three driveways away from his Bonaventure Drive home, Fortin drove through what he thought was a puddle.
Sinkhole in the daylight on Bonaventure Street in Timmins. June 20/22 (Timmins Police Service)
It wasn't a puddle.
"I turned the corner driving towards my house, the whole front end of the car just ...," he said.
The car plunged, front-end first, into a hole in the asphalt.
Fortin said his car was submerged, killing his engine as water filled his car up to his waist.
Getting a little concerned for his safety, he called 911 and managed to get a window open.
"I put my legs out on the windowsill and I'm feeling around 'cause it’s all water around me," Fortin said.
"I wanted to make sure that I had some ground to step on and even at that I’m hanging on to the edge of the car and I’m feeling around and still wasn’t touching any ground. So, I said, 'I ain’t jumping out cause God knows what will happen then.' I said, 'I don’t know how big this hole is.'"
Emergency crews soon arrived to help.
Officials with the city said the sinkhole was created because a watermain break in the neighbourhood compromised the roadway.
"So when watermain breaks occur, it does, at times, wash out some of the ground material under the asphalt and that's what happened there," said Scott Tam, manager of environmental services and public utilities for the City of Timmins.
"Washed a little bit out, compromised the road and unfortunately, the integrity of the asphalt was very brittle."
"It’s a cautionary tale to be careful in any area that you’re travelling through," said Marc Depatie, communications coordinator for the Timmins Police Service.
"A puddle might not have a bottom to it, so you have to be careful in those circumstances."
"I mean, I saw water, but ... you see puddles and you don’t get out of the car to feel if you can drive through it," said Fortin.
He said he's happy he survived the experience without any serious injuries, but added his car is likely a write-off.
Fortin said he's now looking forward to having a shower since the water has also been shut off in his neighbourhood while city crews repair the watermain.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.