SPRING VALLEY, Calif. (KGTV) -- A driver was arrested Monday morning after hitting several parked vehicles and shearing a fire hydrant in Spring Valley, sending water towards nearby homes and a church.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident happened at around 5:15 a.m. in the 9100 block of Akard Street.
CHP officials said the man struck at least two parked vehicles, hit a fire hydrant and then lost control, causing his truck to flip over.
The driver crawled out of his truck and tried to run away, but officers captured him a few blocks away.
When the truck slammed into the fire hydrant, it caused a geyser that reached up to 40 feet in the air and flooded nearby homes and the Grace Covenant Church.
Most of the water damage affected the WOW Christian Preschool at the church. School director Sally Gutierrez said both of the classrooms sustained heavy water damage, as well as the playground areas.
"The floor, the carpets, it all got pretty wet," said Gutierrez. "There's even water dripping down the walls from upstairs."
Water crews were able to shut off the geyser after about 20 minutes.
The preschool reopened in May after closing during the coronavirus pandemic. Only 10 students were enrolled, but they had planned to expand to 30 students in the fall to start the new school year.
"We don't really know how long we'll be closed now," said Gutierrez. "Everything's on hold. The car that crashed, it affected to many of the neighbors, but it affected us as well, and all of our families."
The driver, who was placed under arrest, was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for minor injuries. No one else was hurt.
