Citrus sinkhole sucks down car

DUNNELLON -- Firefighters and rescue workers rushed to the north Citrus County community of Citrus Springs on Tuesday evening after a sinkhole swallowed a 1992 Toyota.

Suzanne Bynes, 44, of Beverly Hills, was putting gas in her car when the sinkhole suddenly opened about 5 p.m. at the Marathon Gas station at U.S. 41 and County Road 39, said Gail Tierney, a spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Neither Bynes nor her son Carmine, 18, was hurt, Tierney said.

By 7:30 p.m., the sinkhole had grown to 20 feet by 25 feet and was at least 15 feet deep. Two fire companies, several engineers and the county's hazardous materials team were working Tuesday night to secure the area and remove the car from the hole. Their biggest concern was the 2,700-gallon fuel tank directly beneath the sinkhole, Tierney said.

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