A rollover crash in the west Las Vegas valley on Monday afternoon ripped through a water line, shooting a geyser into the air and flooding a nearby shopping center. Emergency crews freed the driver from the overturned vehicle and took the person to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Lanes around Hualapai Way and West Charleston Boulevard were shut down while fire, police and utility crews worked to secure the intersection and stop the flow.
Video Shows Car Teetering As Hydrant Sprays
Video captured by a bystander shows a silver sedan perched at the edge of a parking area while water blasts skyward from a damaged hydrant, according to FOX5. The station reports the crash happened at about 1:30 p.m. near Hualapai Way and West Charleston Boulevard and that the torrent flooded parking lots and washed away landscaping as it raced across the strip mall.
Police Say Vehicle Struck Water Main; Driver Hospitalized
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told KTNV that a single vehicle struck a water main line in the intersection, triggering the flooding and forcing lane closures. Police said the driver was transported to an area hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening and that impairment is not suspected. The Regional Transportation Commission also issued alerts about lane closures while crews tackled the break.
Businesses Scramble To Dry Out
Shop owners in the swamped strip mall described a frantic few minutes as water pushed toward their doors and into some interiors. One owner told FOX5 the parking lot looked like “mild raging rapids,” while another reported that water service was shut off during cleanup. Several businesses told the station they had called in mitigation crews to pump out standing water and cut down the risk of mold taking hold later.
Traffic, Repairs And What Comes Next
Officials urged drivers to steer clear of the intersection while utility and emergency crews isolated the break and worked on the damaged piping, according to reporting by KTNV. Police said the collision remains under investigation, and public works crews were expected to stay on scene into the afternoon to complete repairs.
Nearby residents and commuters were told to expect lingering delays as crews finish repairs and cleanup. Officials had not released a cause for the crash, and investigators said they plan to release more information as it becomes available.
