What started as an ordinary stop at a red light quickly turned into a scene straight out of a disaster movie — and two University of Nebraska-Omaha women’s basketball players didn’t hesitate to act.
Olivia Borsutzki and Esra Kurban are being praised after they rushed to help drivers when a sinkhole suddenly opened in the middle of traffic Tuesday, swallowing two vehicles.
The shocking incident unfolded while cars were waiting at an intersection when the pavement gave way beneath a sedan and a pickup truck. As other motorists backed up in fear that the hole might widen, Borsutzki and Kurban did the opposite — they ran toward the chaos.
“I was still in the car and I saw a man in a hole,” Borsutzki said in an interview afterward. “I was like, ‘I need to help.’ Nobody was helping.”
Fueled by adrenaline, the two athletes jumped into action, working to assist those trapped inside the vehicles. Authorities later confirmed that no one was injured, but the situation could have easily taken a far worse turn.
Video of the bizarre collapse quickly made the rounds online, capturing the surreal moment the ground opened beneath the cars. Officials from the Metropolitan Utilities District said it’s too early to pinpoint an exact cause, though a water main break was reported in the area around the same time.
For Borsutzki and Kurban, the decision to help wasn’t about recognition — it was instinct.
“In the moment it was just adrenaline,” Borsutzki said. “We just wanted to help.”
Her father later reminded her how dangerous the situation could have been. But by then, the clip had already gone viral, and the basketball community had taken notice.
Teammates, coaches and staff at Omaha quickly began sharing messages of pride. Borsutzki even received a text from her strength coach praising her toughness in colorful fashion.
The heroic moment capped off an already memorable week for the Omaha Mavericks.
On Wednesday, the team delivered a historic 84-75 win over Oral Roberts. Freshman standout Regan Juenemann exploded for 40 points, Sarai Estupiñan added 30, and Avril Smith dominated the boards with 23 rebounds. According to OptaSTATS, it marked the first time in the past 15 years — across the NBA, WNBA and Division I men’s or women’s basketball — that a trio in a single game combined for a 40-point scorer, a 30-point scorer and a 20-rebound performance.
From stepping up in traffic to stepping up on the court, it’s been a week defined by grit and heart for Omaha’s women’s basketball program.
And while the box score will show the points and rebounds, it’s their split-second decision to run toward danger — not away from it — that has truly captured attention far beyond Nebraska.
