Beaumont Hit-And-Run Suspect Slams Into Hydrant, Sets Of Geyser

BEAUMONT, CA — Beaumont police arrested a man on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run resulting in property damage after he slammed into a fire hydrant and took off, the agency tells Patch. The crash led to a brief, large geyser as a result.

It happened Sunday evening at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 8th Street. Police say 29-year-old Fernando Zalvala Lamas, Jr. slammed into the hydrant and took off running.

Images from the scene showed Lamas first hit the hydrant with a silver sedan, and then knocked down part of a fence before it came to a rest against a tree.

Police and firefighters responded to the scene and while firefighters shut the water off, police eventually caught up with Lamas on Palm Avenue. He was arrested at 8:09 p.m. and taken to the Banning jail, booking records indicated. He posted $5,000 bail and was released from custody on Monday.

Lamas is due in court on Oct. 24, records indicate.