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Water Main Break Floods Cahuenga Blvd. In Hollywood Hills

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – A large water main break flooded the streets and garages of a neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills in the early morning hours Thursday.

Water Main Break Floods Cahuenga Blvd. In Hollywood Hills
A water main break occurred in the Hollywood Hills on Jan. 27, 2022. (OnSceneTV)

The break to an old 12-inch cast iron pipe that was installed back in the 1930s occurred at around 1:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Cahuenga Boulevard, near Odin Street, just off the 101 Freeway.

A powerful river of water gushed down Cahuenga, flooding low-lying garages in the process.

An Uber driver and his three passengers got stuck in the water and had to climb out of the stalled car and wade their way out.

"The car just stalled out, the water was about to the top of the hood, but it wasn't coming over the hood," the driver told CBSLA. "The guy who ordered the ride, I think he felt kind of bad, because he kept telling me, 'go, go, go.' I didn't really want to go through the water, but he was like, 'just go.' So I tried, but it didn't work."

A tow truck arrived and carted his car to higher ground.

Water Main Break Floods Cahuenga Blvd. In Hollywood Hills
A water main break occurred in the Hollywood Hills on Jan. 27, 2022. (OnSceneTV)

California Highway Patrol closed the northbound Highway 101 offramp to Highland Avenue through at least 1 p.m. Morning commuters were advised to avoid the area. Immediate surface streets were also closed to traffic.

The cause of the break was not confirmed. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were on scene conducting repairs. The main was shut off and the water was slowly receding.

Eleven LADWP customers in the area were without water, mostly residents in apartments.

A water main break occurred in the same area in October of 2020. That break sent thousands of gallons of water flowing down Cahuenga Boulevard, where it pooled at the intersection with Odin Street. The water flooded the garages of apartment buildings and homes in the area. Several properties suffered damaged. The garage door of one building buckled.

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