LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It's not uncommon for Arkansans to drive home from work and see a few orange cones and hard hats.
However, on Tuesday, drivers along the intersection of West Markham and South Pine Street encountered an unusual occurrence: a car stuck in a giant pothole.
Several people thought the driver "hit a sinkhole," but Central Arkansas Water Public Affairs Officer Doug Shackelford said this gap was actually manmade.
"No, not a sinkhole; we had an accident where a car hit one of the holes that we had dug, and luckily," Shackelford said. "No one was injured, but we're working on a spontaneous break."
I know many may be used to seeing city road workers or the Arkansas Department of Transportation, but CAW this time was doing double duty, which Shackelford says is not uncommon with their line of work.
"We have infrastructure all around the city that could be underneath the street, underneath sidewalks... driveways, sometimes that must be repaired or replaced," Shackelford said. "Yesterday, we were starting the work here on this particular project."
Shackelford is now using Tuesday's accident as a reminder for drivers to watch for more work crews because this won't be the last construction zone they see.
"We try to put out the signage well in advance to give motorists an opportunity to do what they need to do to be safe," Shackelford said. "Then, of course, here on site, you can't miss it... the orange cones, the trucks, the lights, and all those different things that are going on."
He also asks drivers to be mindful of their workers, as they are putting their lives at risk to ensure that the community has functioning water.
"It's a dangerous job, and they're doing some great work out here," Shackelford said. "We just want them to be safe."
Little Rock police said everyone involved in Tuesday's accident is safe.
We never received any information on what caused the accident itself.