Sinkhole Stops Traffic on I-240

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A sinkhole along Interstate 240 was still on the mend Wednesday night. The huge hole tore up tires, scaring drivers who didn't see it until they hit it.

With 2 lanes of the interstate still closed as of Wednesday night, TDOT said they're prepared to continue working until the sinkhole is mended.

Crews have been out near mile marker 13 since being called out just after 4:00pm Wednesday afternoon. It appears a previous repair didn't stick, creating a surprise black hole for commuters.

Imagine driving and stumbling upon a 6 foot sinkhole. The experience is no longer a hypothetical for people like Marie Cottrill.

"I tried to avoid it but then I felt that I was falling in," she said.

Cottrill is one of at least 3 drivers we spoke with that had the unfortunate luck of finding the sinkhole before police and repair crews were alerted Wednesday afternoon.

"It was scary. It was pretty scary because you didn't know what was going on," Joyce Lyles said.

Situated in the left and center lanes of 1-240 Northbound near the Walnut Grove interchange, the sinkhole jarred and jolted cars and trucks sometime after 3:00pm.

"Half of my truck went in it," said William Jarvis.

"It blew out my tires," added Lyles.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation said because of a dip in the road, it had been out to patch the area near mile marker 13 earlier in the morning. A TDOT spokesperson said crews thought it had been fixed and don't know how it opened up.

"It was black, huge," described Cottrill.

The aftermath slowed traffic down to one lane around the sinkhole site. At least 8 accidents were reported. Drivers even had to exchange information after bumping into one another while waiting on on-ramps.

No injuries have been reported. Those affected say they were able to pull over and wait for help.

Owners of the cars damaged by the sinkhole want someone to pay for their car repairs. In the meantime, others are advised to plan for delays or alternate routes through the area.