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WEEKLY NEWS 1: Sinkhole In Home Kills Man

A California man fell to his death when a giant sinkhole suddenly opened up in the middle of his living room, pulling him more than ten feet underground. Jason Chellew, 27, of Alta, California, was killed by the debris that fell upon him when the first floor of his house collapsed into the sinkhole last Friday evening. Chellew’s wife Kathy, who is expecting the couple’s first child, was able to escape to safety through a window in the bedroom.

The ground continued to shift beneath the house, forcing work crews to wait until Sunday to retrieve Chellew’s body. The hole, which was originally measured at ten feet by ten feet, grew steadily wider and deeper, reaching 30 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Special monitoring equipment confirmed that the ground had become more stable by Sunday; the house was then dismantled, allowing crews to reach Chellew.

According to Kathy Chellew, her husband was sitting in the living room when he heard creaking noises. He got up quickly to exit the room, and the floor opened beneath him.

Officials are investigating the cause of the tragic incident. One theory is that the house might have been built over an old underground mine. The Alta area once contained numerous gold mines, dating back to the 1860s. Recent heavy rains could have added to the instability by softening the ground underneath the house.

--Written by Patricia Daniels

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