Northern Indiana city inspects aging vaults under sidewalks

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GOSHEN — The city of Goshen is inspecting sidewalks outside downtown businesses to make sure they're safe after a bar owner was injured falling into an aging underground vault outside the establishment.

WSBT-TV reports City Inspector Tony Cano and a fire inspector began checking on the vaults after the owner of the Dew Drop Inn fell 10 feet when a sidewalk collapsed July 21.

Cano says they've inspected about 40 businesses so far and five needed reinforcements to hold up the sidewalks. The inspections are continuing.

City Engineer Mary Cripe says Goshen will look at filling in the vaults.

The vaults were used more than 100 years ago to store coal and later to move or store goods.