Gaping hole sheds light on Idaho Falls’ underground

A gaping hole remains in the Bank of Commerce parking lot on Yellowstone Highway near A Street after a crane fell through the pavement and into a parking garage underneath Tuesday night.

The driver was attempting to exit an alleyway behind the bank at the time of the accident.

While many were shocked to hear the news, some were surprised to learn that Idaho Falls has underground parking.

“I was really shocked, I was really surprised,” said Thomas Vaughan. “I didn’t know there was any underground parking.”

The underground garage the crane fell into is usually reserved for bank employees. It was closed Wednesday while engineers surveyed the site to make sure it was structurally sound. Many bank employees parked in the city-owned lot across the street.

The city confirmed to Local News 8 that there’s at least five privately-owned underground parking garages in downtown Idaho Falls, including one owned by Idahoan Foods on Constitution Way.

“I don’t know a lot about them, I just know they’re here. That’s all I know,” said Juston Bee.

Now that people know, a lot of people are wondering how safe they are.

“It could be the integrity of the structure,” said Derek Henninger.

“I don’t know if it would be good for them to have an underground parking garage, especially considering what happened to that one,” said Vaughan.

The Bank of Commerce told Local News 8 that it’s still gathering information, and does not yet know what might have caused the crane to fall into the parking garage.

We’re told the driver of that crane came away unscathed, and by the sound of it, his pride may have been the only casualty.

“They were just laughing about it, teasing him. Just making fun of it,” said Bee.

The Bank of Commerce is asking members of the public to keep a safe distance from the hole.