Students on their way to class yesterday found the McCormick Road pedestrian crosswalk on Monroe Hill blocked off by University Police and Charlottesville Fire Department vehicles. Flames were observed coming out of the manhole cover in the eastbound lane of McCormick Road by Clark Hall, and authorities were notified shortly after, University spokesperson Carol Wood said.
“By the time police and fire responded, there [were] no visible flames but there was smoke coming up from the tunnel,” Wood said. “They think that someone may have dropped something through the grate on to the tunnel floor below accidentally.”
No one was in the tunnel when flames occurred, Wood said. The eastbound lane of McCormick Road may require some work, most likely by Facilities Management, she added.
Overall, the disruption was handled well, Wood said.
“Police and fire and facilities responded very quickly to the incident,” Wood said. “All the necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of everyone who passes that way.”
—compiled by Matt Denton and Emily Poe
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