Early Tuesday morning, a big problem happened in Bristol County when a water pipe broke under a busy road. This caused part of the street to collapse, and a white car parked nearby got partly swallowed by the hole. Because of this, the road had to be closed for safety reasons.
What Happened?
At about 7:30 a.m., people heard a loud noise near Elm Street and Maple Avenue in Attleboro. Suddenly, a part of the road cracked and sank down, making a hole big enough to pull in the front of a white car. The water pipe that runs under the road had burst, sending lots of water rushing underground and washing away the dirt beneath the pavement.
This caused the road to cave in very quickly. The water main is a large pipe that carries water to many homes and businesses, so the break caused some problems for the neighborhood too.
Road Closed, Traffic Diverted
Because the road was unsafe, police and emergency workers closed Elm Street between Maple Avenue and Pine Street. They set up signs and barriers to keep people away. Drivers had to take other streets to get around the area, which made traffic slower than usual.
No One Was Hurt
The white car stuck in the hole belonged to a person who wasn’t inside at the time, so no one got hurt. Firefighters came to the scene right away to make sure no one else would get close to the dangerous hole.
“The most important thing was keeping people safe,” said Fire Chief Mark Donnelly. Emergency crews stayed there for hours to watch the area and stop the hole from getting bigger.
Fixing the Problem
Workers from the Bristol County Water Authority came quickly to fix the broken pipe. They had to turn off the water to the area so they could dig up the broken pipe and replace it. The work is not easy and will take several days.
“We know this is hard for people, but we are working fast to fix it,” said Linda Ramirez, a spokesperson for the Water Authority. She asked people to be patient while the repair work goes on.
Impact on the Neighborhood
Because the water main broke, some homes and stores nearby lost water for a while. The Water Authority gave out bottled water and set up a place where people could fill containers with water until the pipes were fixed.
Some businesses along Elm Street said fewer customers came because the road was closed. Town leaders are trying to find ways to help these businesses during this tough time.
What’s Next?
The city and water workers promise to make sure the road and water pipes are fixed safely and quickly. They told drivers to be careful and follow the detour signs until the road opens again.
People should check local news and traffic updates to know when the road will reopen and if there are any new changes.
