Suspected DUI crash takes out hydrant, triggers flooding, gas leak in West Valley City

A driver was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI after hitting a fire hydrant at 2987 S. Cortney Drive in West Valley City early Sunday, May 7. Photo: Gephardt Daily/SLCScanner

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, May 7, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — In the wee hours of Sunday morning, on Cortney Drive, a man drove his car into a fire hydrant. The impact rolled the car onto its side, and the broken hydrant sent up a geyser, flooding the car and turning the street into a lake.

When officers arrived at the watery scene, the man reportedly told them he had been drinking and texting prior to the crash.

West Valley Police Lt. Robert Hamilton said the driver was taken into custody to be tested, and the incident was being treated as a DUI.

After the water was turned off, though, police realized that a gas line had been ruptured and natural gas was leaking into the night air.

Hamilton said Questar Gas and the West Valley City Fire Department were called and Questar was talking about bringing out a construction crew.

The crash occurred just before 12:30 a.m. in front of 2987 S. Cortney Drive (4215 West). Two hours later, crews were still on scene working to repair the damage and clean up the mess.

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