Officials reported chaos in Oviedo last night after a man, identified as Robert Garcia, struck a fire hydrant, causing a significant washout on Oviedo Boulevard. The incident, which occurred just north of Mitchell Hammock Road, led to the dramatic collapse of the road just as an ambulance was transporting a crash victim to the hospital. The ground gave way, and the ambulance fell into the resulting washout.
Earlier in the evening, around 10 p.m., Garcia was involved in collisions with three other vehicles before the crash into the hydrant. He was arrested at the scene by Oviedo police, who said they could detect alcohol on his breath. According to ClickOrlando, Garcia could not recall the crash's details or the direction in which he was driving. Surveillance footage, however, from a Tesla involved in the incident showed that it was Garcia's actions that caused the crash, leading to his charges of DUI and refusal to submit to DUI testing.
The collapse of the road endangered the ambulance crew and their patient and prompted a rapid response from a Seminole County Fire unit, as reported by WFTV. The patient was transferred to another ambulance for transport to the hospital, and a tow truck removed the stranded ambulance from the depression. There were no additional injuries stemming from the road collapse.
Oviedo Public Works crews eventually found that the hydrant’s shut-off valves were damaged in the crash, complicating efforts to halt the water flow. It wasn't until 9 a.m. the following morning that the water was finally stopped. The resulting road damage necessitated the closure of Oviedo Boulevard northbound between Mitchell Hammock Road and Center Lake Lane, with city crews working diligently to repair the utility damage.
