MELBA, Idaho — Authorities say a woman died after her car fell into a sinkhole hear Melba.

A section of roadway 15 feet wide and 40 feet long collapsed on Saturday, killing 32-year-old Sonia Lopez of Melba.

Nampa Highway District Director Casey Bequeath says irrigation water from a nearby field running through gopher tunnels likely weakened the ground beneath the street.

Bequeath says it is difficult to detect such problems ahead of time and that transportation officials had no idea the road was going to collapse.

The Idaho Press-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/NkGSsM ) that crews reopened the road around noon Saturday, and completed repairs Tuesday.