Sinkhole opens up in Lancaster community, bringing neighbors together
By Taylor Hess
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WEST EARL TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A sinkhole has emerged at the intersection of State and Locust streets, causing disruption but also bringing the local community together.
Daryl Stoltzfus recounted how his wife noticed the sinkhole forming just minutes after she had been outside.
“My wife was out here five minutes before. Five minutes later, she goes to leave the driveway and sees a sinkhole starting to open up,” Stoltzfus said. She quickly alerted him, saying, “You might want to come down here. I think there’s a sinkhole.”
Crews had spent hours searching for a broken water main until the ground revealed the issue. The sinkhole, initially beside a driveway, has now expanded to the entire intersection.
Stoltzfus took precautions to protect his property.
“I told my wife to back the car up. I didn’t want it going into the sinkhole,” he said.
While their cars were spared, their mailboxes were not as fortunate.
“Both of our mailboxes. We had them on the same post. It was sitting there, and then today, that’s when it all went down,” Stoltzfus said.
Despite the road closure, neighbors have found a silver lining in the situation.
“It’s kind of interesting. These tragic things happen in the middle of our little community. Route 772 is usually so busy when it shuts down, you really see people come together. It’s like family,” said Jonathan Duty.
For residents like Stoltzfus and Jonathan Duty, who live close to the sinkhole, maintaining perspective is crucial.
“When you put things in perspective, we’re just without water for a few days,” Stoltzfus said. Duty echoed this sentiment, saying, “We’re only out of water. It’ll come back on. We might’ve missed a shower, but we’ll get ourselves back together.”
The community has rallied not only for each other but also for the workers fixing the sinkhole. Residents have provided donuts, hot coffee, and pizza as a gesture of thanks for their hard work.
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