Backhoe stuck inside Montreal sinkhole

MONTREAL, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Repair crews in Montreal said they are trying to figure out the best way to remove a backhoe from the middle of a massive sinkhole on a busy city street.

City officials said crews were preparing to inspect a leaky sewer pipe under St. Catherine Street near Guy Street when the sinkhole opened up Monday morning, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

The backhoe fell into the collapsed portion of the roadway, but the driver was able to escape uninjured.

Crews said they are testing the surrounding roads to make sure they are stable enough to bring in a crane to lift the stranded backhoe.

Workers from gas company Gaz Metro visited the site Tuesday to shut down gas lines endangered by the sinkhole and efforts to remove the backhoe.