SEFFNER, Fla. — A contractor is expected to survey a sinkhole in Hillsborough County that has reopened for the third time in 10 years. 


What You Need To Know

  • A sinkhole reopened in the Lazy Lanes neighborhood in Seffner

  • It first opened in 2013 and a 37-year-old man was killed

  • Authorities are asking people to avoid going near the location

It is the same spot in Seffner where a sinkhole opened in 2013, and pulled a man into the ground, who was never recovered.

Jeff Bush was 37 years old.

The same sinkhole in the neighborhood known as Lazy Lanes reopened in 2015.

Photo by Spectrum Bay News 9 reporter Josh Rojas

The spot is back open again, and officials are bringing in a remediation contractor to figure out how the sinkhole reopened and the best way to treat it.

“One of these days that sinkhole there is going to run us out. One of these days, I don’t know when but they will,” said neighbor Willie Holloway.

“That’s all it is, a nightmare and worrying,” he said of the location. “At least nobody died in this one.”

Paul Lavanderia, director of Hillsborough Code Enforcement, said the sinkhole is “19 feet wide north to south, by 16 feet wide east to west, by 19 feet deep.”

He said the sinkhole was previously filled with gravel and other material which keeps it from spreading when it reopens.

“We controlled the footprint of this, which is what we want,” he said. “We don’t want anything growing or anything going anywhere else where it shouldn’t. If it’s going to happen, we know where it’s going to happen and we can attack it from there.”

Cindy Holloway, Willie’s daughter, said she took the day off from work because of the situation.

“It’s stressful. My parents live right next door,” she said. “And yeah, it’s very stressful. We were like holy you know what.”

Spectrum News  reached Jeremy Bush over the phone, and he said the sinkhole reopening brings back terrible memories of his brother’s death.

Hillsborough County officials are warning residents to stay away from the area. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is monitoring the site.

Fencing is in place to keep anyone from getting near the sinkhole.