A West Hollywood resident described a terrifying experience early Thursday morning when a severe water main break sent thousands of gallons of water cascading down streets and into homes. Kyle MacLelland, 37, was awakened by the rising water, which he described as a "crazy river" flowing towards his ground-level apartment.
"We jumped out of bed and saw a crazy river coming down the street, shooting towards our apartment," MacLelland told The California Post. "Water was spraying everywhere. There was no stopping it. There was nothing we could do."
The floodwaters, originating from a break near Dialog Cafe, quickly filled MacLelland's apartment, rendering their attempts to block the water futile. The water submerged two cars in the apartment's parking garage, which MacLelland stated were "lost."
MacLelland's experience was shared by many West Hollywood residents who suffered extensive damage from the break, which occurred around 3 a.m. The ancient pipes are being blamed by residents for the flooding.
The incident also resulted in a large sinkhole forming at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive, disrupting traffic and prompting repair crews to address the situation.
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman confirmed at a press conference that all residents were safe, though many were in shock and assessing significant damage to their sub-garages and vehicles. He indicated that the city was working to assist affected residents with repairs and remediation.
MacLelland expressed his dismay over the event, stating, "It was not a good situation to wake up to."
