Sacramento crews search underground tunnel system after man reportedly goes missing
Search crews dug out a tunnel system near Interstate 5 in Sacramento for a man reportedly not seen in days, firefighters said.
Around 11:30 a.m. Friday, the Sacramento Fire Department said it responded to Bercut Drive and Summit Tunnel, along Interstate 5, after being notified by the California Highway Patrol that a homeless man was reportedly living underground in a tunnel system and had not been seen in three days.
The CHP was doing a homeless abatement project along I-5, just south of Richards Boulevard, when they notified the fire department.
Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department said there were some sinking areas around where the encampment could be.
"This is very unique," Sylvia said. "We do see a lot of unhoused activity around Sacramento, but to take it to a next level of tunneling underground, it's a very dangerous situation. Even when contractors do it professionally, there's shoring that's involved because you don't know the stability of the soil that goes around there."
Sylvia said there were about 60 personnel at the scene, including a search dog. Crews could be seen digging around the hole.
After several hours of searching, no one was found. The city sent crews out to fill the hole with dirt.