A Tel Aviv resident escaped death by a whisker on Saturday when driving on a Tel Aviv highway when a sinkhole suddenly opened.
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Footage obtained by Israel Hayom showed the driver – Nir – turn onto the Derech Hashalom exit, when the vehicle was suddenly thrust downward, almost getting sucked into the pit that appeared, but managing to continue forward.
"Just as I was driving up toward Derekh Hashalom, it's impossible to explain, but there was one crazy boom and one moment I felt I was falling into the sinkhole and the next, I was able to continue," Nir told Israel Hayom. "I almost crashed into a wall on the right and almost broke the steering wheel. Luckily, the road was empty, and I put on the emergency lights. At first, I didn't understand what had happened, perhaps someone bumped into me. I stopped and got out of the car and when I saw the sinkhole, I said, 'Oh my God, I could have died.' Other drivers immediately started screaming that I should get off the road."
After the accident, Nir suffered from whiplash and backache.
"I have back pain and the car is pretty much gone, but I survived miraculously. I have not driven since, it will take time for me to get back to it."
Luckily, no other injuries were reported, also due to the fact that the incident occurred on Shabbat when there is generally less traffic.
After an inspection, nearby lanes were reopened on Sunday morning, which is also when the sinkhole was filled. Nevertheless, the Derech Hashalom exit has remained closed ever since.
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