Crash shears hydrant at busy Hollywood intersection

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A sheared hydrant from a traffic collision sent water shooting directly at a power line in Hollywood Thursday morning.

The incident was reported at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

Shynell Branson had just quit her job and was driving home when she felt her brakes go out.

"So it was either go into the oncoming traffic or turn," she said. "There were people at the bus stop, and I didn't want to hit them."

The plume of water reached up to the high power lines overhead, short-circuiting the system and creating a series of explosions.

The accident knocked out power to several city blocks.