A car sheared off a fire hydrant, caused a huge geyser and forced a family in the Beverly Glen area of Benedict Canyon to evacuate Friday night, authorities said.
The crash happened at about 10:30 p.m. on Benedict Canyon Drive near Clear View Drive (map)
The sheared hydrant sent water shooting more than 200 feet into the air, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.
The water cascaded down on a nearby home, flooding that residence and forcing firefighters to help the family of four escape, officials said.
"They were saturated in water and in shock and frightened," neighbor Michael Chasteen said.
Residents said the curving roadway is known for being the site of crashes.
"This is what we’ve been talking about here in the canyon … about accidents here and danger of them," Chasteen said. "This is a perfect example of what's going on here."
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The water from the hydrant was so strong firefighters weren't able to it shut off until 1:15 a.m., witnesses recounted.
"The driver involved in the crash remained at the scene," said Sgt. C. Barlow of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division. "He was questioned to try to find out how this happened."
Police are trying to detemine if drugs or alcohol was a factor.
The house was completely flooded by the geyser, and insurance agents will have to determine just how much damage it sustained.
No one was hurt in the incident.
