Ukraine lays claim to the mother of all potholes
Click above for a gallery of the VW Golf that was swallowed by a pothole in Ukraine
Think the roads are bad in your neck of the woods? Growing up just a bit south of Detroit before moving to the sunnier climes of Arizona, this particular blogger has always assumed that Michigan's harsh winters and heavy traffic conspire to make the frost heaved and potholed highways of the Motor City the worst in the world. Apparently, that's not the case, and it's not even close.
The dubious distinction of the world's worst pothole must go out to our friends in Ukraine. The story accompanies the set of photos seen below explains that an underground water pipe may have burst, which created a sinkhole large enough to swallow an entire Volkswagen Golf whole. Fortunately, the car's occupants were able to escape out the back window, which was just about the only portion of the hatchback that wasn't covered by a few tons of dirt and asphalt.
Gallery: Ukrainian pothole swallows VW Golf
[Source: English Russia]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
StickShift 12:33PM (4/02/2009)
How do you explain that to the insurance company?
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Mike P. 12:38PM (4/02/2009)
If they're anything like ICBC in BC, as a "one-car collision" with 100% of the fault on the driver.
bhtooefr 1:14PM (4/02/2009)
In the US, you file it as a comprehensive claim. (And if you don't have comprehensive, you don't file any claim.)
Or you file a claim against the city's public works department for the damages, although your insurance company might do that for you.
Randy 3:23PM (4/02/2009)
This is a good example of why it's good to finally figure out how to get the back seat down to access the trunk in my car. Wow! Imagine that?
Epyx 12:37PM (4/02/2009)
Looks like most roads in Pittsburgh.
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Arch111905 2:22PM (4/02/2009)
I recently moved back to Ukraine after growing up in States. The biggest shock was when I saw the roads here. I would say the roads here are the worst in the world.
exkart 3:20PM (4/02/2009)
we like our driving a little too much
Spiel 8:21AM (4/03/2009)
+1
Good ol`Pittsburgh. I really can't say I miss its roads or winter weather.
L-GT 12:39PM (4/02/2009)
No amount of ShamWow is going to clean that up.
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Epyx 12:48PM (4/02/2009)
LOL! Looks like someone may have tried. Is that a Sham-Wow on the bumper?
MajorGeek 1:21PM (4/02/2009)
How about 2 Sham-Wows with a hookers help?
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0327092sham1.html
1337 1:40PM (4/02/2009)
Are you kidding? It'll buff out!
garlinski 2:31PM (4/02/2009)
It's just a little wet... it's still good, it's still good.
apearlman 12:40PM (4/02/2009)
"a sinkhole large enough to swallow an ENTIRE Volkswagen Golf whole"
Hm, not quite. Looks like a bit of the car doesn't quite fit. That's a pretty good pothole, but I hope we can find something bigger.
Doesn't this car have a remote hatch release? Why did they have to break the rear window to escape?
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Kimura 12:45PM (4/02/2009)
Because water kills electronics.
Bob-omb 1:32PM (4/02/2009)
That's what I was wondering. And from the looks of the size of that back window, my fat ass would have been stuck in that car.
revvo 12:44PM (4/02/2009)
Well, if Ukraine is the motherload, then Montreal is second and I assure you they will rock your suspensions to hell.
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jc 12:51PM (4/02/2009)
Bad shot!
That one went into the pond.
Now You know why they're called Golf (verb).
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Luis 12:51PM (4/02/2009)
That's nothing compared to what we have in Boston.
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PaulPaul 12:53PM (4/02/2009)
f*ck any potholes, anywhere.
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