HONOLULU — An early morning two-vehicle collision sent commuters scrambling and water spraying into the air after a car slammed into a fire hydrant and flipped onto its side in Makiki.

According to the Honolulu Police Department, the incident occurred just after 6:30 a.m. of Tuesday, July 7, 2026 near the busy intersection of Piikoi and Young Streets.

Emergency responders arrived to find a dramatic scene: one of the vehicles involved had veered off the roadway, sheared a fire hydrant, and come to rest completely on its driver's side. The impact ruptured the hydrant, sending a steady stream of water flooding down the asphalt and into the surrounding intersection during the peak of the morning rush hour.

Honolulu Fire Department personnel quickly worked to secure the vehicle and manage the localized flooding while police diverted traffic away from the intersection. Drivers experienced significant delays along Piikoi Street as crews worked to upright the overturned vehicle and clear the debris.

The Board of Water Supply was also called to the scene to shut off the water flow and assess the damage to the sheared hydrant.

Area residents reported hearing a loud crash followed immediately by the sound of rushing water. The intersection, heavily utilized by both local neighborhood traffic and commuters heading toward the H-1 freeway or downtown Honolulu, quickly ground to a halt as onlookers and emergency vehicles filled the lanes. Nearby businesses also monitored the rising water closely, though no immediate property flooding was reported.

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet released information regarding potential injuries or the number of occupants inside the vehicles. Officials are using the incident to remind drivers to exercise extreme caution during early morning hours, when visibility changes and heavy commuter traffic can increase the risk of intersection collisions.

Commuters are advised to avoid the intersection of Piikoi and Young Streets if possible and seek alternative routes while cleanup and utility repair operations continue.