Cars Submerged, Drivers Trapped After Water Main Bursts In Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A broken water main trapped drivers in the Hollywood Hills, shut down part of the Hollywood (101) Freeway and submerged vehicles early Wednesday morning. Two people were forced to climb atop their submerged car and await rescue from the water, which was about 4 feet deep in areas

The break was reported about 3 a.m. near the Highland Avenue offramp from the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The offramp was closed while crews worked to handle the problem, a closure that was continuing several hours afterward, the CHP reported.

The broken water main caused considerable damage. DWP officials said by mid-morning that crews were on the scene doing repair work on the ruptured main. But agency officials said Cahuenga Boulevard between Odin and Cahuenga Terrace is expected to remain blocked until at least 6 p.m.

“It’s lifted up the sidewalk here on Cajuenga,” Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief Carlos Calvillo told KTLA as the water continued to flow out of the broken main at 5 a.m. “When firefighters were on scene we had two females up on top of the roof the car.”

Firefighters used a ladder bridge to help get the women to safety.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.