Large Temecula Sinkhole Prompts Closure, Flooding Envelops Road

TEMECULA, CA — A major Temecula roadway was closed to traffic Wednesday evening after a sinkhole developed in town. The sinkhole, believed at this time to have started from a water main break, led to the full closure of a portion of Jefferson Avenue.

The incident was first reported at 6:48 p.m. at Jefferson Avenue and Rancho California Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

"The initial report was a broken water main," Agency Spokeswoman April Newman told Patch.

As the flooding continued to spread, authorities closed off a mile-long stretch of Jefferson, between Rancho California Road and Via Montezuma.

Newman said there was "major flooding" and the "road is buckled." As a result, authorities evacuated area businesses.

"If you were planning on traveling in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio... just don’t," Temecula police said on Facebook. "We have a fluid situation developing. It’s currently sinking. We were able to quickly clear vehicle traffic but we are looking at a very large sinkhole right at the intersection and traffic is stopped in both directions."

As of 8:30 p.m., 11 firefighters remained at the scene, along with authorities from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the water department.

There was no estimate as to when the roadway would reopen.

— Images via the Temecula Police Department