Truck rollover accident causes Newport fire hydrant gusher

A view from high above Newport Road shows the effects of a truck collision with a fire hydrant Monday afternoon. Photo by James Gray

The Riverside Sheriff's Department on Tuesday released limited information on a single-vehicle accident that shut down a section of Newport Road in Menifee Monday afternoon.

Officers responding to the incident about 4 p.m. located an overturned truck on the side of the eastbound lanes of Newport Road near Calle Tomas, adjacent to the fenced property of the future Menifee Town Center, said Deputy Mike Vasquez. The truck collided with a fire hydrant, which was gushing water in heavy traffic.

The driver was out of the vehicle when officers arrived and did not report injuries, but was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Newport Road was shut down until almost 7 p.m. while Southern California Edison and Eastern Municipal Water District workers made repairs.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. Thanks to several of our readers who sent us photos of the accident.

Photo by Pat Cook

Photo by William Carver

Photo by Bridget Beckering Peck