T-Mobile store in North Hills collapses after truck veers off road, shears fire hydrant

A T-Mobile store in North Hills began to collapse after a truck veered off the road and sheared a nearby fire hydrant, causing water to gush onto the roof of  the building on Sunday afternoon. 

It happened a little before 4 p.m. as the truck was traveling in the 15300 block of Nordhoff Street it suddenly veered off the road, striking a fire hydrant before coming to a stop against an electrical pole, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. 

"Traffic collision involving a hydrant which resulted in a large amount of water on the roof of a one-story, commercial building," said a statement from LAFD. "The structural integrity of the building is compromised."

Firefighters contacted the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to turn off the water rushing from the sheared hydrant, as well as the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety to assess the damage dealt to the structure. They also contacted the building's natural gas provider. 

It's unclear if there were any injuries in the crash, but Los Angeles Police Department officers say that the truck driver had fled from the scene on foot by the time they arrived. 

SkyCal flew over the spot of the incident, where the building could be seen with severe damage. There was a large crack on the facade just over the T-Mobile logo, while the roof appeared to have collapsed inward. 

Footage from the Citizen app showed water shooting dozens of feet into the air from the fire hydrant. It was landing on the roof of the store, causing it to flood before the flow could be shut off by LADWP workers. 

The building has been flagged by inspectors as they work to determine if it is beyond repair.