UNIVERSITY CITY (KGTV) -- Several University City residents were rescued from their apartment balconies early Monday morning after their building became flooded in up to four feet of water from a busted fire hydrant.
The incident first started around 1:30 a.m. when a motorist in an SUV crashed into a fire hydrant in the 9000 block of Genesee Avenue, in front of the Canyon Park Apartments across from La Jolla Country Day School.
The sheared fire hydrant created a geyser that flooded the adjacent apartment building. Several lower level units became submerged in up to four feet of water.
Some residents were forced out onto their balconies as waterfalls cascaded through their apartments and into the canyon below.
Firefighters were able to rescue those trapped on their balconies without further incident. It took crews about a half hour to turn off the water.
The American Red Cross was called in to help 22 adults, six dogs and a cat arrange for another place to stay.
The driver told officers he fell asleep before crashing into the fire hydrant, San Diego Police officer Tony Martinez said.
City News Service contributed to this report.
