Two people died and numerous cars were destroyed. That sinkhole was 25 feet deep. Before you build, you should have a geologist ensure that your subsurface is in good shape. You do not want to build without ensuring that the surface will remain in tact, and will not collapse into a sinkhole. A geologist can perform ground penetrating tests to ensure that you will be ok.
Sinkholes can form for a variety of reasons.
To some extent, the reason one might form depends on where the property is located. For example, if you live in a mining community, you may suffer from a sinkhole caused by an abandoned underground mine. In Pennsylvania, where mining has occurred for hundreds of years, this is so common that the State has created a sinkhole insurance fund. The name of the State program is the Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund and it is administered by the State Department of Environmental Protection. The Fund has existed since 1961.