Cleveland intersection collapses following water main break

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - An intersection in Cleveland collapsed Sunday afternoon following an earlier water main break.

Cleveland police said there will be no parking on Ontario Street or St. Clair Avenue near police headquarters, located at 1300 Ontario St., until further notice.

Motorists gawked while others snapped photos of the gigantic hole in the road, like Noelle Davis who lives nearby.

“It’s absolutely terrifying,” Davis said. “It scares me if they’re letting cars go around it. I think the land might be unstable underneath it, maybe nothing more will happen, but, there’s that possibility.

Cleveland street maintenance crews safeguarded the massive sinkhole with road closed signs and barricades to alert drivers and pedestrians of the danger in the road.

The street collapsed just hours, and in the very same spot where the water main break occurred. It created a sinkhole that was large enough for a car to sit in.

Cleveland police officials confirmed the water main break that started it all happened at 7:55 a.m. in the middle of the intersection of St. Clair Avenue and Ontario Street.

The broken water pipes left some who live and work in the area without water for several hours as repairs were made.

It’s unclear if the jail and police department were affected.

Officials have since blocked off all streets that cross through the intersection.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved.