(Thechieftainspear) – Residents in a quiet Riverside neighborhood were left dealing with widespread flooding and extensive property damage Friday morning after a hit-and-run driver slammed into a fire hydrant and fled the scene.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. near Brisbane Drive and Mission Village Drive. A dark-colored SUV reportedly struck the hydrant with enough force to shear it off, unleashing a powerful stream of water that gushed for nearly 30 minutes.
Local homeowner Hector Lopez recalled the moment it all began.
“My wife heard a loud crash, and moments later we saw water spraying everywhere,” said Lopez, who lives just feet from the damaged hydrant.
Officials with the Western Municipal Water District eventually managed to shut off the water flow, but by then, the hydrant had released approximately 30,000 gallons—soaking backyards, flooding homes, and even uprooting trees.
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“The water reached all the way into our kitchen, living room, and bedrooms,” Lopez said during a tour of his home with KTLA. “Now the entire flooring has to be removed. Cleanup alone will take several days, and repairs are expected to last two to three months.”
At least two neighboring homes were also impacted, and residents are now facing both emotional and financial burdens.
Lopez pointed to the backyard, where branches were torn from trees and water reached as high as the roofline.
“The spray was so strong it shredded the trees,” he said, gesturing toward a tree that holds deep personal meaning. “That one came from a graft I planted from a tree my grandmother and I grew together back in 1972.”
Riverside Fire officials confirmed the driver fled the scene and remains unidentified. Authorities say once the suspect is found, they will be held financially responsible for the damage caused.
As residents begin the lengthy process of cleanup and restoration, the neighborhood is hoping the driver will be found and justice served.
