A
A 20-foot-wide hole opened up on a quiet residential street that engulfed the entire road – and a passing motorcycle.
Emergency services rushed to close Martens Avenue, Bexleheath, after the asphalt failed at about 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
It remains unclear what caused the road to rupture.
Mike Stevens / Facebook
Images of the drone show the hole, which occupies the entire width of the paved road and is said to be more than 16 feet deep.
READ MORE
Neighbors claim on social media that a motorcyclist did not see the huge hole and entered the crater.
Mick Stevens, 49, who lives next door, told Mail Online: “I parked on the road at 9pm and thought, ‘What the hell is this?’
“There were one or two people standing and watching something.
“Then a motorcycle rushed in and tried to jump over the hole. He must have thought it was Ivel Kniwell or something.
Mr Stevens added: “He fell into it with this big motorbike, then he came out and started shouting ‘I need a taxi, I need a taxi’ and then he ran away. The police and the fire department were here for hours. “
Darren, who chose not to give his last name, said the rider had a “happy escape” after his bike fell into a hole.
He told the PA news agency: “It happened right in front of my house and no one was injured, as far as I know, fortunately, but the man on the motorcycle escaped with a happy escape.
“He left the scene before the emergency services arrived.
“It was quite exciting, but also scary, because we were informed that we might have to be evacuated if things went well.
“The road is still closed, emergency services have left and only Thames water services remain.”
The road was closed to pedestrians on Wednesday.
Liam Edwards, 25, who lives on Lacedown Avenue, said he heard a “massive shock” when part of the road next door collapsed.
Mr Edwards told PA: “I live on the road to it and I heard a massive blow.
“I saw that there was a motorbike inside and I talked to one of the neighbors right next to him and (he said) he had moved his van only five minutes before, otherwise he would also be in the hole.
“No one was injured, although it was a terrible experience for those living against him.
“The whole place doesn’t have a police presence now, but you can’t get close to it if you try.
There are no reports of injuries, but a motorcycle was photographed lying on one side in the hole.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called to Martens Avenue, Bexleheath, shortly before 9pm on June 21 to report a large hole.
“No information on victims.”
The London Fire Brigade said they were called to the 5-meter abyss at 9 p.m.
A spokesman said: “We helped secure the scene and the incident ended for the crews by 10:28 p.m.
Add Comment