Video: Car swallowed by sinkhole on suburban Chicago street A rainstorm pummeling the Chicago area ripped open a sinkhole that swallowed three cars, injuring one driver badly enough that he had to be taken to hospital. The gaping sinkhole opened up a residential street in the South Deering area of the city in the early hours of Thursday morning after a cast iron water main dating back to 1915 broke during the massive storm. The hole spanned the entire width of the road. Only the bonnet of one of the vehicles could be seen peeking from the chasm.