Texas sinkhole swallows two cars, killing a sheriff’s deputy

Texas sinkhole swallows two cars, killing a sheriff’s deputy

USA Today Network Emily Porter, KENS-TV, San Antonio 9:06 a.m. EST December 6, 2016

An off-duty sheriff's deputy died and two other people were hurt when two vehicles plunged into a sinkhole in San Antonio, Texas. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office on Monday identified the victim as 69-year-old Deputy Dora Linda Nishihara. USA TODAY
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(Photo: KENS-TV)

SAN ANTONIO-- A Bexar County Sheriff's deputy was killed after her car was swallowed by a sinkhole on Sunday night.

Dora Linda (Solis) Nishihara, who had been with the agency for seven years, was killed on Sunday, the Sheriff's Department said in a tweet. Two others were injured.

The San Antonio Fire Department confirmed Monday that two cars were swallowed by the sinkhole. Firefighters removed the two vehicles from the sinkhole shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday.

The sinkhole, which was located on a two lane road in southwest San Antonio, was first reported around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night, according to officials.

Firefighters said a man in his 60s was driving through standing water when his vehicle entered the sinkhole.

Occupants of a car passing by saw the man stranded and stopped to help him. Firefighters said a woman was injured in the process of helping the man.

The man who entered the sinkhole and the woman who stopped to help him were both transported to Southwest General to be treated for minor injuries.

By the time first responders were able to make it to the scene, they realized that Nishihara's vehicle was already 90% submerged in the waters, and it was not likely that she would have survived.

A 100-ton crane was taken to the scene to remove both vehicles from the sinkhole Monday afternoon. The car containing the Nishihara's body was removed around 1 p.m.

Chief Hood said in a press conference immediately following that there was not much first responders could've done to save Nishihara.

Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau said in a statement that officials were devastated by Nishihara's death.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family," she said in a statement. "Deputy Nishihara worked as a Reserve Deputy from August 2009 to October 2016 before transitioning to a part-time Deputy at the Bexar County Courthouse in October of this year. We are assisting her family as they deal with this tragedy.”