LIE sinkhole in Melville disrupting westbound traffic

A large sinkhole on the Long Island Expressway is disrupting traffic in Melville, Suffolk County police said Thursday. 

The right and center lanes of the westbound LIE were closed at Exit 49N because of the sinkhole. 

The sinkhole is said to be about 10 feet wide and eight feet deep. It takes up a whole lane of the LIE. Department of Transportation officials are trying to figure out how it opened. 

"By the grace of God, I am going home" 

Suffolk County Police said one car partially entered the sinkhole. Fortunately there were no injuries. 

"By the grace of God, I am going home to my family, which is important," Jeffrey Jimenez said. 

Jimenez said he was driving westbound around 1:30 p.m. when out of nowhere he spotted something unfamiliar on the road. 

"When I was coming down, it looked like it was wet, until I got very close to it. Then I realized it was a hole, and the front of my car hit, and both tires blew off and it veered to the right," Jimenez said. 

Witness said at least three vehicles smashed into the hole, with the third, a Honda Civic, falling in and getting stuck.

"That's so dangerous" 

Video from the scene captured emergency crews pulling the vehicle out of the sinkhole. 

It has been surprising drivers, who have had to take detours not knowing what's going on. 

"Oh my God. That's so dangerous. I can't believe that happened. That's crazy," one driver said. 

The closure of the two lanes is expected to last at least a day, Suffolk Police said. Only one lane remains open. Motorists are urged to avoid the area. 

The sinkhole comes only days before a potential Long Island Rail Road strike this weekend, which could leave commuters relying on the LIE to get around.