Car Shears Fire Hydrant In Hollywood Near High-Voltage Power Lines
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A vehicle sheared a fire hydrant Thursday in Hollywood, sending water spewing into the air and resulting in some explosions near power lines, officials said.
Water from the geyser had come into contact with high-voltage power lines are in the area in the 6700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard shortly after 7 a.m., according to Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) officials were notified so the lines could be de-energized as a safety measure while the water was shut off, Scott said.
No injuries were reported.
Two "big" explosions were also heard in the area after the collision, according to KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero.
Shynell Blanson, who was behind the wheel of the car that took out the hydrant, said she was headed home from work when her brakes gave out.
"So it was either go out into all the traffic and hit other cars or turn," said Blanson.
About 114 customers were without service at one point following the collision, according to LADWP.
The circumstances of today's accident were under investigation.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
