Saturday 21 January 2017

Motorcycle crash causes major sinkhole in Wichita, Kansas.

Local authorities are warning drivers to expect several days of disruption after a motorcycle struck a fire hydrant, leading to a water leak that washed away sediments beneath a major interchange, leading to a sinkhole that closed both roads. The motorcycle was reportedly being chased y the police when it hit the hydrant, having failed to stop after a traffic violation. The rider was taken to hospital with injuries described as ;serious but not life-threatening'.

Sinkhole in Wichita, Kansas, caused by a motorcycle crash. KSN.

Sinkholes are generally caused by water eroding soft limestone or unconsolidated deposits from beneath, causing a hole that works its way upwards and eventually opening spectacularly at the surface. Where there are unconsolidated deposits at the surface they can infill from the sides, apparently swallowing objects at the surface, including people, without trace. Potash, a potassium salt, is readily soluble and can be dissolved quickly if water gains access to deposits, leading to the rapid formation of sinkholes.

See also...

http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/sinkhole-opens-up-at-kansas-golf-course.html
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/flooding-and-winter-storms-thought-to.html


http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/magnitude-35-earthquake-in-harper.html
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/magnitude-32-earthquake-in-harper.html
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/a-new-species-of-tick-borne-virus-from.htmlhttp://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/at-least-32-dead-as-tornados-hit.html
Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.