The incident happened just after noon in front of Acme Windows on Somerset Street in Plainfield.
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Authorities say the 67-year-old woman appeared to be texting when she fell through the open bilco doors.
Raw: Video shows woman fall into sidewalk opening
She fell 6 feet to the floor below.
A girl and woman walking in the other direction saw it all, and in just a few moments, a whole crowd gathered to see what happened.
The Plainfield Fire Division extricated the woman from the hole and rushed her to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
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The access doors were open due to the repair of gas lines in the area. You can see the helmet of a worker inside the hole at the time of the fall.
The victim is listed in serious condition.