A water main break that caused part of the road on Route 140 in Massachusetts to collapse caused significant traffic, and officials say it will be fixed by Tuesday morning.
Route 140 was closed between Thurston and Madison Streets after a car struck a hydrant around 1 p.m. Monday, causing a water main break that created a 20-foot long sinkhole.
"He wiped out the hydrant right there and as I was calling 911, he was kind of coming out of his car and I helped him out of it," Dean Alger said.
Alger, whose Wrentham antique shop was closed on Monday, was hanging Christmas decorations on the porch when it happened. He said it soon became obvious that there was a problem with the road.
"The volume, it flooded the street immediately, so you could tell it was going to be a problem," he said.
Authorities are also concerned a gas leak may have been caused by the accident after the report of a gas odor. However, nothing has been found.
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As a result, Wrentham Police say residents living between Madison and Thurston Streets and in the Community at Pond Meadow, a nursing home and independent living center, have had their water shut off are being asked to stay in their homes.
Diane DeFrank's mother lives at the nursing home.
"She's relieved that nobody had to evacuate. She didn't want to have to leave, she's not feeling that well," she said.
Authorities also expect major delays in the area because traffic is being detoured. Water will likely be turned back on Tuesday morning.
Crews just finished paving this road in October, according to police.
"All summer, we had to deal with detours and the road just being repaved and now we're back to square one, it looks like," DeFrank added.
