Pocono News Section

Sinkhole in Foster Township

Sinkhole in Foster Township - Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 4:38PM EST

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009 @ 04:38pm EST

People who live in one part of Luzerne County have a hole lot to worry about.

A big sinkhole opened up next to state route 2044, also known as Sandy Valley Road .

Geraldine Banyas got a sinking feeling on her Monday walk in Foster Township .

"I walked down here and I looked and I didn't go to close," said Banyas.

Banyas found a hole about 4 feet wide and 12 feet deep next to Sandy Valley Road .

"What is it? What caused it? We don't really know so let's check in to it and see what happened," Banyas told Eyewitness News.

Those questions were answered Tuesday by the state office of surface mining.

A spokesman says the hole was likely caused by one of two things: an old mine or a blocked drainage ditch.

Banyas's brother Neslon Contress lives on Sandy Valley Road and wants it fixed.

"They come down here, caves in, someone gets killed, what the heck. And there are big trucks and big trailers coming through here," said Contress.

Penndot workers are on the scene Tuesday.

Penndot is filling the hole with huge rocks.

That's calming to neighbors like Banyas.

"We're glad they're here, see what's going to happen, see how they're going to fix it," said Banyas.

The office of surface mining says once Penndot files the hole, it will be considered fixed.

Nelson Contress tells us he grew up on that road and thinks an old mine is to blame.

The office of surface mining can't confirm that.

A spokesman says the maps are unclear.