On Monday evening, businesses in the 800 block of North China Lake Boulevard experienced some commotion when a hit and run driver collided with a fire hydrant in the parking area in front of the stores.
The incident took place around 7:45 p.m. Allegedly, a man struck the fire hydrant with his vehicle and then left the scene.
The damaged hydrant resulted in a significant gush of water shooting into the air, flooding the nearby parking lot. It wasn’t until firefighters and employees from the Indian Wells Valley Water District arrived that the water flow was stopped.
Sgt. Ryan Marrone from the Ridgecrest Police Department reported that the driver responsible, identified as Luis Leon Vasquez, was subsequently located at the Man Camp on Highway 178. Vasquez was arrested for driving under the influence.
A police log entry reveals that a witness to the accident called the police department, having followed Vasquez as he fled the scene and provided information about his whereabouts.