Sinkhole Swallows Up Car in Tampa, FL

July 12, 2010 — (TAMPA) A sinkhole on 50th street near Fowler Avenue opened up and swallowed a car on Sunday. Eleven families who live in a building next to the sinkhole at the Bordeaux Village Condominiums were forced to evacuate due to safety concerns.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said the sinkhole was approximately 20 feet by 10 feet and growing. No injuries were reported.

Resident Sandy Burnham heard a noise, went outside and, to her shock, her 1995 Toyota Camry was deep inside the 20-foot sinkhole.

"It is just surreal out car is in a huge hole it went down so fast," said Burnham.

Hillsborough county code enforcement says the sinkhole is still growing. The building near the sinkhole has been ruled unsafe for people to live in.

Engineers are examining the sinkhole and plan to stabilize it.

Burnham uses her Camry to get to and from work and her husband uses the vehicle to interview for jobs. There seemed to be no way of getting the car out of the huge sinkhole.

Officials say this area is well known for sinkhole formation, and that other buildings in the complex — which is right across 50th Street from the University of South Florida campus — could be at risk, too.

———Family struggles without their car since the Incident———

Sean and Sandy Burnham struggle with the fact that their 1995 Toyota Camry has sunken into the ground.

They found out from State Farm Insurance that their policy will not cover the car for any damage related to the sinkhole.

"I have cried a lot," said Sandy.

The couple only had basic coverage, which includes Personal Injury Protection and Liability. The Burnham's say their car is a total loss.

The family is also one of nearly a dozen families that were forced to move out of their place at the Bordeaux Village Condominiums on 50th street near Fowler Avenue.

The sinkhole continues to grow, getting closer to the building that has been declared unsafe for people to live in.

Workers put up a huge fence around the building and the sinkhole Monday evening.

Without a car, Sandy Burnham can't drive to work as a clerk at a convenience store in Riverview. Sean Burnham, who is unemployed, can't look for a job.

"I do not know what to do, that car was our lifeline," Sandy said.

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[exil431HD]

Mother Natures Got An asshole :)

[thespartan95]

I wonder if her insurance covers that...

[lavista4u]

It's coming near you...

[9Rapt6]

great effort you do awesome videos