A large sinkhole in the front yard of a Las Cruces residence swallowed two vehicles and forced the temporary evacuation of occupants from three homes Monday evening.
About 9:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, Las Cruces firefighters were dispatched to the report of a sinkhole on the 1700 block of Regal Ridge Street. Fire crews arrived to find a large sinkhole measuring approximately 30-feet wide and 30-feet deep.
The sinkhole engulfed two vehicles that were parked in the driveway. Firefighters reported the mass depression was still settling when they arrived on scene.
No injuries were reported.
As a precautionary measure, crews evacuated the occupants of the home and residents from two adjacent houses. The American Red Cross was called to assist the family of the affected home and their neighbors.
Las Cruces Utilities and El Paso Electric were called to secure utilities and evaluate if any service lines might have been compromised within the neighborhood.
Regal Ridge Street is temporarily closed to traffic until City of Las Cruces engineers and street crews can determine the potential cause of the sinkhole and safety of the roadway. Intermittent closure of the road and utility services are anticipated in the coming days when it’s determined how best to backfill the sinkhole.