Two college basketball players sprang into action on Tuesday following a two-vehicle accident in Nebraska that unexpectedly caused a sinkhole to form beneath their vehicle.
A red SUV and a gray pickup truck were idling at a red light when the ground suddenly gave way, and both vehicles plunged into the hole.
The pickup truck’s driver managed to open the door quickly, but it’s unclear if the SUV driver’s condition was similar. Meanwhile, a purple car waiting at a nearby four-way stop came to a halt, allowing the driver of the SUV to escape safely. The individuals who emerged from the purple car were Esra Kurban and Olivia Borsatzki, members of the University of Nebraska-Omaha women’s basketball team.
“At first, I thought it was just an accident, but then I saw a man beside the car and realized, ‘Oh, the car is actually on the ground,'” Borsatzki recounted.
There was no hesitation for either player. “I just pulled over and thought, ‘I have to help,'” Borsatzki said. She observed that, “No one else seemed interested in helping. People were filming with their phones or driving by, but no one was stepping in.” She nudged Kurban, saying, “You have to do something; I don’t know what, but we can’t just stand here.”
According to Borsatzki, the occupants of the SUV appeared to be “panicking,” but the woman inside grabbed Kurban and pulled him from the sinkhole.
Kurban expressed her surprise at the road’s collapse, saying, “I didn’t think this was even possible. It shocked me, but thankfully, everything turned out alright in the end.”
Luckily, neither driver suffered injuries, as confirmed by the police. Omaha Police Department spokeswoman Officer Sarah Martier expressed gratitude for the quick action of the players in providing aid.
The following day, the Lady Mavericks celebrated a victory against Oral Roberts, winning 85-74. This remarkable win made them the only teams in the NBA, WNBA, and Division I in the past 15 years to have players score at least 40, 30, and 20 rebounds in the same game.
