Woman rescued when car falls into L.A. sinkhole

Firefighters arrived shortly after 8:15 p.m. in Studio City and found one car upside-down in a large dark sinkhole full of rushing water, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A 48-year-old woman was standing on her car, approximately 10 feet below street level, Scott said.

Firefighters lowered a 20-foot extension ladder down to the woman, allowing her to climb out, KNBC reported.

The woman told firefighters that while she was driving, she felt her car pitch to the left and then it tumbled into the sinkhole, Scott said. The airbags deployed and water started coming into the car, and she was not able to escape through the windows because they couldn't open.

Scott said the woman was able to open the door and climb on top of the car.

The sinkhole was estimated to be about 20 feet wide, KNBC reported.

The sinkhole incident was part of a major weather story in the Los Angeles area. A powerful storm drenched the area, downed trees and power lines, KTLA reported.