Dallas driver hospitalized after vehicle falls into sinkhole

A man is hospitalized after his vehicle fell into a sinkhole in Dallas's Pleasant Grove neighborhood Monday morning.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said they were called to the 1800 block of Riverway Drive at about 9:13 a.m. after someone reported a pickup truck pulling a trailer stuck in a sinkhole.

DFR said the driver was taken to the hospital for unspecified injuries, and their condition is not known.

DFR could not confirm whether the sinkhole opened underneath the truck or if the driver drove into the sinkhole, but said the water department had been notified and was asked to investigate.

The sinkhole is in a residential area, on a street adjacent to Lake June/Prairie Creek, not far from N. Prairie Creek and Bruton roads. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area.

Terrance Perkins, who owns property in the area, told NBC 5 he knows the injured driver. He said the man was headed home when the road collapsed underneath him.

"He was on his way back this way and it caved in on him," Perkins said. "He's doing [OK], as far as I know. I did hear his voice, but I can't say how he may feel."

Perkins said he thinks years of sewer neglect and runoff from White Rock Lake into Lake June have led to erosion under streets and homes.

Perkins told NBC 5 homeowners own the private lake, but he hopes city engineers will come out and look at the sewer system and replace the old pipes.

"Those pipes are just old and there’s no way they can handle the amount of waste and runoff from the community," Perkins said.

Dallas Water Utilities said their responding crews identified a failed 27-inch concrete wastewater mainline. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, repairs are expected to be completed by Thursday, said a city spokesperson.

NBC 5 reached out to Dallas District 5 Council Member Jaime Resendez, who issued the following statement:

"My office has been made aware of the sinkhole that opened up this morning on Riverway Dr., and my thoughts are with the individual who was injured. I’ve been in contact with city staff to ensure that the site is secured and that an investigation is conducted to determine the cause. I understand and share the concerns of residents. Ensuring the safety of our neighborhoods is a top priority, and I will be working closely with city departments to assess the condition of surrounding infrastructure and explore both immediate and long-term solutions."

Lola Caldwell, who also lives in the neighborhood, said she heard a loud noise, rushed outside, and saw her neighbor get out of his truck, appearing dazed.

"All I could see was this great big hole in the street," Caldwell said. "He was at the back of the trailer trying to see what he ran into … from the impact, the way he acted, it may have hurt him or shook him up with the trailer falling in."

She said driving on the street makes her nervous and that she and her neighbors worry about what's going on underneath the road after every rainfall.

"Just standing here right now, I'm not sure I would drive on this road. It doesn't make me feel safe at all," Caldwell said.