In the early hours of August 28, 2024, a solo vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Firestone and Old River School Rd in Downey. Around 2:00 am, a female driver heading west on Firestone lost control of her vehicle, crashing into a fire hydrant with devastating consequences. The impact caused the hydrant to be dislodged with such force that it struck a nearby individual, identified as Bob, in the head before slamming into a wall. The hydrant’s force nearly resulted in Bob’s decapitation, highlighting the severity of the incident.
In the chaos, the vehicle also collided with a power pole, leaving the driver trapped inside for approximately 30 minutes. Downey Fire Department responders swiftly arrived at the scene and used the Jaws of Life to extricate the woman from the wreckage. Once freed, she was transported to a nearby trauma center for urgent medical attention.
Following the rescue, firefighters worked to turn off the water gushing from the broken hydrant, while Edison crews arrived on site to address the damaged power pole. This location has seen its share of accidents, with this crash adding to the list of incidents that have occurred here.
Video footage of the crash, captured by surveillance cameras, is expected to be released soon. Notably, the intersection has been featured in several films, including “HEAT” and “License to Drive.”