Passing Car Damaged by Manhole Cover Explosion

November 4, 2008

Los Angeles, California - A manhole cover shooting that was caused by an electrical malfunction caused a minor damage to a passing car in Reseda.

Capt. Brian Hampton of the Los Angeles Fire Department said the car was hit in Sherman Way, which is near Calvin Way.

The woman who was driving the car was not hurt but the car she was driving got a flat tire, said Hampton.

According to fire officials, incidents of manhole cover explosions are not unusual and that the round metal cover is estimated to have a weight of around 100 pounds.

“They do not have problems occasionally and usually with no consequences,” said Hampton.

According to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) spokesman Brooks Baker, investigation on the accurate reason why the incident occurred is still ongoing, but it was preliminarily blamed on a piece of electrical equipment that is faulty.

The accident happened near a station of the DWP.