A crash sheared a fire hydrant and sparked an explosion in a busy Hollywood intersection. Ted Chen reports for the NBC News at Noon on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015.
More than 50 people were without power for several hours Thursday after a car collision sheared a fire hydrant and triggered an explosion in a busy Hollywood intersection.
Streets were blocked off near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue after a driver crashed into a fire hydrant just before 7 a.m.
Firefighters and the Department of Water and Power helped clear up the hazard after water sprayed up into the air, causing an explosion after high-voltage power lines crossed.
The driver of the vehicle, Shynell Blanson, said her brakes went out before the collision.
"It was either go into the oncoming traffic that probably would have killed me or turned to the fire hydrant, and I chose to turn into the fire hydrant," said Blanson.
DWP crews worked to repair the hydrant and the downed power lines for several hours.
No injuries were reported.
