by Jeff Tang
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Sinkholes are common in the midstate, especially in Montgomery County.
But it's not often that a pedestrian causes a sinkhole to collapse.
One second, Charlie Baum was walking to the bank; the next, he was almost four feet underground.
"My nephew was talking to me, then phoom I fell right through," said Baum, who was walking to the bank Sunday evening.
For the fragile stretch of sidewalk on Third and Franklin Streets next to the county courthouse, Charlie was the 192-pound piece of straw that broke the concrete camel's back.
"What's going on? Where's the sidewalk going? I tried to get out and when I did more bricks fell. My nephew said grab my hand and pulled me out," said Baum.
Charlie flagged down a police officer who filed a report on the newly formed sinkhole. It's now blocked off, waiting to be filled in like the sinkhole on the other side of the county courthouse, which was patched over after it gave way.
"I've never fallen through a sidewalk before. That doesn't happen every day," Baum said.
However, sinkholes aren't uncommon in Clarksville, where water erosion frequently creates even bigger collapses. Charlie Baum just happened to have the misfortune of being right in the middle of this one at the absolute worst time.
"Let's put it this way: if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all," Baum joked. "I'd say it was bad luck."
EMS personnel did arrive at the scene and checked Baum out.
They said he didn't suffer any broken bones, but he plans on taking a trip to the doctor tomorrow to see if he's got any other kinds of injuries.
Clarksville had several large sinkholes form after the May flood. Crews had to fill in several sinkholes on the site of the new Hemlock Semiconductor Plant before construction started there.
Email: jtang@newschannel5.com
