Hit-and-Run Possibly To Blame For Water Main Break In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA – Utility crews have repaired a water main break that may have resulted from a hit-and-run crash Thursday evening in Santa Cruz, a city Water Department spokeswoman said.

It appeared a car ran into a fire hydrant in the 300 block of Pacific Avenue and fled the scene around 5:30 p.m., department spokeswoman Eileen Cross said.

The hydrant was shooting water up into the air and responding firefighters turned off service, Cross said.

When they turned the water back on, an unexpected surge occurred and led a 6-inch cast iron line to rupture, she said.

Crews spent the rest of the evening fixing the pipe and restored service at about 10 p.m., according to Cross.

Pacific Avenue was closed between Front Street and the roundabout for the repairs, police said.

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--Bay City News/Image via Santa Cruz Water Department