Truck Crashes Into Massive Sinkhole In Bartow County

ACWORTH, GA — The driver of a pickup truck suffered minor injuries after crashing into the massive sinkhole that's closed a segment of Tanyard Creek Road in southern Bartow County. The Georgia State Patrol responded to the accident, which was situated just east of Glade Road in unincorporated Acworth.

According to the state agency, the driver told troopers he did not see the three barricades while traveling on Tanyard Creek Road from Glade Road.

He later admitted that he saw the last barricade, but drove around it, GSP added. While behind the wheel of the truck, the driver said he was "paying attention to the dozer in the middle of the road and did not see the sinkhole in the roadway."

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"The driver never hit the brakes," the Georgia State Patrol said. "All three barricades were in place upon arriving on (the) scene from the same direction that the vehicle approached from."

The motorist, identified as Patrick Stewart Oldknow, 49, of Winston, was charged with failure to obey traffic-control devices.

The sinkhole spanning the entire width of the road formed over the weekend, and Tanyard Creek Road between Glade and Groovers Landing roads remains closed to traffic. Bartow County officials have said it will take weeks to repair the roadway.

Images via Kayla Harmon