A Norfolk police officer waded into floodwaters Tuesday afternoon to rescue a woman trapped inside her SUV after a sinkhole opened beneath the vehicle during a storm in downtown Norfolk.
According to the Norfolk Police Department, officers responded around 3:30 p.m. to a reported sinkhole near the Interstate 264 West exit ramp onto East City Hall Avenue. When they arrived, they discovered a vehicle partially submerged in a water-filled sinkhole.
Police said the driver, an adult woman, was still inside the SUV and unable to open the door. One of the responding officers entered the water, freed the woman from the vehicle, and pulled her to safety.
Norfolk Fire-Rescue personnel evaluated the driver at the scene, but she did not require transportation to a hospital. The dramatic rescue happened as floodwaters covered portions of the roadway during severe weather in the area.
Update: Shortly after arriving on scene at the water main break, units reported observing a vehicle partially submerged in the sinkhole. The driver, an adult female, was still inside the vehicle and unable to open the door. One of the officers went into the water and was able to… https://t.co/GQXZZyUOML
— Norfolk Police Dept (@NorfolkPD) June 23, 2026
Officer Entered Floodwaters to Reach Trapped Driver
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The Norfolk Police Department said officers initially responded to what was believed to be a water main break near the base of the I-264 West exit ramp onto East City Hall Avenue.
Shortly after arriving, officers discovered the SUV partially submerged in the sinkhole. According to police, the driver was unable to open her door and remained trapped inside the vehicle until an officer entered the water and helped her escape.
Images from the scene show the white SUV at a steep angle in standing water after the roadway beneath it collapsed.
The incident quickly drew attention online, with many viewers commenting on how difficult it would have been to recognize the danger hidden beneath the floodwater.
City Says Water Main Failure Caused Collapse
City officials said the roadway collapse appears to be connected to a damaged 16-inch water main beneath the street.
“We’ve identified it’s a problem with one of our mains out there,” Mary Keough, Norfolk’s assistant director of utilities, told local media. “It is a 16-inch main, and we’re using contractors. It’s a joint team of contractors and city crews.”
Crews spent Wednesday pumping water from the hole, removing debris, and excavating the area to determine the full extent of the damage before repairs can begin.
Contractors working at the scene told local television station 13News Now that the sinkhole is estimated to be approximately 7 feet deep.
“We do work as quickly as possible to get the work done and to minimize all impacts,” Keough said.
The Incident Is a Reminder About Flooded Roads
While the rescue ended without serious injuries, the incident serves as a reminder of why safety officials routinely advise drivers to avoid flooded roadways.
Floodwater can conceal hazards that are impossible to see from behind the wheel, including debris, washed-out pavement, open manholes, and sinkholes. In this case, what appeared to be a flooded section of roadway had already collapsed beneath the surface.
The City of Norfolk said portions of East City Hall Avenue and Exit 10 from Interstate 264 West remain closed while repairs continue. Officials have not announced when the roadway will reopen and are encouraging motorists to use alternate routes into downtown Norfolk.
What do you think? Looking at the photo, would you have realized the roadway had collapsed beneath the floodwater, or does this show why it’s often safest to turn around when roads are flooded?