WASHINGTON — In D.C., it is hard to avoid the many construction panels that cover holes made in the road for construction projects. Two people driving over one of those panels Friday night in Tenleytown suddenly had a sinking feeling.

“I just came across the plate, and it just pretty much just started sinking,” said Scott Thomas of D.C.

Thomas and his passenger, Brittni Guevarna, were on Wisconsin Avenue Northwest near Nebraska Avenue Northwest, headed toward a nearby restaurant for milkshakes, when the metal panel they were driving on gave way.

“I just saw his half of the car just sink down, and I was looking down at him,” Guevarna said.

They were thankful that they were not injured and that the car did not go any deeper into the hole than it did, they said.

Guevarna said she hopes this incident speeds up the construction project in this area of D.C.

Though the vehicle sinking into the ground delayed them, it would not get in the way of their after-dinner plans, they said.

“We’re going to treat ourselves to some shakes after this,” Guevarna said.