A car struck a fire hydrant in Cathedral City Wednesday, flooding a popular thoroughfare and snarling traffic as crews worked to clean up the mess.
The solo vehicle collision was reported at about 11:40 a.m. on Dinah Shore Drive between Cathedral Canyon Drive and Via De Anza, city spokesman Chris Parman said.
Parman said the driver hit the fire hydrant while making an illegal U-turn and fled the scene. Law enforcement has identified the driver, according to Parman, although it was unclear whether anybody was injured.
Crews stopped the water flow around noon, though Dinah Shore Drive remained fully closed while mud and debris were cleaned up, Parman said.
The flooding also caused a sinkhole to develop in the area, which could complicate the roadway’s reopening.
Dinah Shore Drive was expected to reopen between 2 and 3 p.m. if the sinkhole didn’t cause extensive damage, Parman said. Crews would know more within the hour if the roadway will need to remain closed for longer, he added.