Two Arrested for DUI and Hit-and-Run Following Fire Hydrant Collision in Desert Hot Springs
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA — Two men were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run related charges following a traffic collision involving a fire hydrant in Desert Hot Springs.
Officers with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department initially responded to reports of a vehicle striking a fire hydrant on Hacienda Avenue. Callers to 911 indicated that the vehicle was occupied by three males and had fled the scene following the impact.
A police detective in the area subsequently observed a vehicle matching the reported description driving erratically at high speeds near Mesquite Avenue and Flora Avenue. Officers conducted a traffic stop and confirmed the vehicle was the one involved in the earlier incident.
During the stop, officers determined that the driver was under the influence. Investigators further learned that the individual who had been driving at the time of the collision had switched seats prior to the stop and was sitting in a passenger seat. Officers established that he was also intoxicated. Both men were arrested for DUI and hit-and-run related charges.
Personnel from Cal Fire and the Mission Springs Water District responded to the scene on Hacienda Avenue to address the damaged fire hydrant. Emergency crews successfully mitigated the water flow, though responders were soaked in the process.
Department officials reported that no serious injuries occurred as a result of the collision.
