Sinkhole swallows car near Market Mall

Puddles aren’t always what they seem. A Saskatoon driver learned that lesson the hard way.

A photo of a vehicle at Preston Avenue and Adelaide Street with its front bumper submerged in a hole on Monday was widely shared on social media.

The city says sinkholes like these are not common, but at least two vehicles in the past week have been swallowed by a large street crater.

Truck falls into a sinkhole on 23rd Street West. (Perry Dallas/Facebook)

“What can happen at this time of year is that depending on the type of break, a water main break can end up melting the thick layer of frost above and create unstable soil conditions or even voids,” said Brendan Lemke, director of water and waste operations for the City of Saskatoon.

“With larger diameter pipes and more severe breaks, this can evolve rather quickly. We have no way of knowing whether an accumulation of water on the surface would indicate this type of scenario.”

The city said crews are dispatched to locations as soon as they are notified of a potential break. Crews conduct a preliminary investigation to isolate water flows and prepare for repairs.

“While the water remains pooled, it is not possible to inspect visually. Pylons or barricades are placed in the roadway as a warning and best attempts are made to block off areas as circumstances allow,” Lemke said.

The city said drivers are encouraged to watch for barricades and avoid driving through any large puddles or marked areas.