Unbelievable Sinkhole Swallows Vehicle in Port Richmond: What You Need to Know

An SUV fell into a sinkhole in the Port Richmond area of Philadelphia on Tuesday. The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. on E. Birch Street.

Video footage showed the Chevy with only its front end visible above ground, completely engulfed by the sinkhole.

Steve Williams, the SUV’s owner and a police officer for over three decades, shared his reaction. “I got a call from my wife about something happening outside. I returned home early and found her vehicle in a sinkhole,” he recounted. For Williams, it’s just another day. “I’ve seen it all. As long as nobody was hurt, it’s just property damage,” he said.

In a twist, a nearby white Mazda was also affected, with its front hanging precariously over the edge. Neighbors mentioned the owner is currently out of town.

Maggie Razzi, a neighbor who has lived in the area for 60 years, expressed her disbelief. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. She pointed out a leaking pipe inside the sinkhole. Luckily, there’s been no flooding in basements, but about 30 homes were temporarily without water as repairs got underway.

Razzi speculated that recent home construction nearby might have weakened the ground. “My house has been shaking for weeks,” she noted. “I wasn’t shocked when I saw the sinkhole.”

While the Mazda was towed away easily, retrieving the SUV will be more complicated. It will need a bigger tow truck and special equipment to pull it out safely.

Authorities are working to fix the sinkhole, but it’s uncertain how long the repairs will take. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported as a result of this unusual incident.