By Mike LaBellaHAVERHILL — Just after 11 a.m. today, a sink hole appeared on South Main Street in front of the Heav'nly Donuts coffee and doughnut shop, startling drivers who were able to avoid the depression in the road.
The hole was about 2 feet across and 3 feet deep. An employee of the coffee shop said she was about to enter the building when a car exiting from the drive-up window came to a sudden stop with a screech of tires.
"The hole had just opened up and the driver had to back up in order to drive around it," said Holly Berube, 29, of Haverhill. "I never saw anything like that in the eight years I've worked here."
Berube said she and other employees placed a metal news rack that was in the store in front of the sink hole to warn drivers until police and Highway Department workers arrived and set out a yellow warning sign.
"It must have been all the rain we've been getting and all the downpours," Berube said while Police Officer Sean Sharneck directed traffic around the hole.
Highway Department foreman Thomas Shanahan said a steel plate will be placed over the hole today so that cars can drive over it. He said repairs will likely be made on Sunday morning when traffic is light.
A complete report will appear in Wednesday's edition of The Eagle-Tribune.
