Motorist Shears Fire Hydrant, Causing Major Water Flows Into Riverside

RIVERSIDE, CA — A motorist slammed into a fire hydrant in south Riverside Friday, shearing it and causing thousands of gallons of water to flow onto a residential street, flooding at least three properties before crews capped the geyser.

The hydrant was hit just after 11 a.m. in the area of Brisbane Drive and Botany Bay Road, adjacent to the Mission Village Shopping Center, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

The agency said that multiple engine crews were sent to the location and discovered the hydrant completely dislodged, spilling water onto the surrounding streets, with the heaviest flows onto Brisbane.

Witnesses told firefighters that a driver hit the hydrant after skidding off of the road and immediately fled the scene. Riverside police officers were searching for the suspect.

Water flowed into at least three two-story residences within the gated community, collecting on the ground floors, causing significant damage, according to officials at the scene.

Firefighters were able to shut off the pipe feeding the hydrant at 11:30 a.m.

Western Municipal Water District repair crews were slated to recap and restore the hydrant to functionality Friday afternoon.

Firefighters were assisting residents with pumping the water out of their homes. There were no immediate dollar estimates associated with the damage.

—City News Service