David Williams said he got a phone call about 5:30 a.m. Friday. His car was partially underground.

Stuart Patteson, Bakersfield Public Works operations manager, said Williams' parked car was swallowed by a sinkhole at 1st and L streets, created by a deteriorated 36-inch sewer trunk line.


Comment: More sinkhole activity in California:
California couple wakes to find sinkhole in yard (March 2013)
US, California: Giant Sinkhole Opens up Near UCSD (Oct 2011)


Patteson said they pulled the car out of the sinkhole and started examining the extent of damage to the sewer line. Repairs will come next.

"Damage is horrible, it's horrible," Williams said of his ride, which was swallowed up trunk-first. "The car was nice, now look at it. It's real bad."

Patteson said the street was already slated for repairs next week.