Powerful Life

OPPD employee’s training kicked in when sinkhole swallowed vehicles

When a section of Pacific Street in Omaha gave way beneath two vehicles in late February, Alex Prine, a meter technician, did what he’s trained and motivated to do: pause, assess and help.  

He wasn’t on the clock. He was simply driving home, saw something that didn’t look right and stepped in alongside other bystanders to pull a driver to safety.  

The video of the sinkhole, which swallowed two vehicles waiting at a stop light just a few blocks north of OPPD’s corporate headquarters, quickly went viral. National morning and evening news programs featured the video.  

It shows the moment the pavement gave way and an SUV and pickup dropped into the sinkhole. Seconds later Olivia Borsutzki, a member of the University of Nebraska-Omaha basketball team, and Prine jump out of their vehicles to assist the two drivers.  

A month later, the City of Omaha recognized Borsutzki and Prine for their actions. 

A strong safety culture

For Prine, the real story is what prepared him to act and how OPPD’s strong safety culture played an important role in how he responded. 

Prine, who has been with OPPD for 14 years, has spent years on the road for his job, first as an electrician and now in metering. That experience, combined with annual safety training, shaped his response the moment he approached the scene. 

“We always get taught to check the scene before you dive in,” he said. “On the video, you can see me walk up a little slowly, on purpose, because it was a giant hole in the ground. After a couple seconds it was clear they needed help.” 

He and Borsutzki reached the SUV first. A third person joined them, and together they helped the driver climb out. 

“It all happened really fast,” Prine said. “Thankfully nobody was injured.” 

He doesn’t see himself as a hero. It was a moment where training and situational awareness kicked in. 

“You never really know how you’ll react,” he said. “I think a lot of people would have done the same. Timing played a huge role. I just happened to be there right then.” 

The roles easily could have been reversed, he said. 

“If I’d reached that turn lane 30 or 45 seconds earlier, my truck could’ve been in the hole too. I feel lucky I got there when I did,” he said. 

Making a difference

The City of Omaha and Mayor John Ewing honored Prine and Borsutzki as part of the Good Neighbors program, for stepping up when they were needed. The event highlighted how everyday people make a difference close to home. 

“It was a little surreal,” Prine said. “I’m not big on being on TV or standing in front of a room. But it was nice to see the community come together around that Good Neighbors theme.” 

The recognition underscores that safety training matters, even if you hope you never need it, he said. 

“All the stuff we go over yearly, first aid, scene assessment, it’s super important,” he said. “You hope you never have to use it. But you never know what’s going to happen.” 

Prine’s quick thinking and calm response weren’t an accident. They were the product of years of experience and training. 

“If something like that happened again,” he said, “I’d hope to respond the same way.”