UPDATE, 11:15 p.m.: LoCO received a call from Sergeant Ron Sligh of the Arcata Police Department who told us that an arrest was made related to this evening’s drive-by hydrantcide. The driver, 37-year-old Jeffrey M. Wood of McKinleyville, was somehow able to navigate his Chevy Suburban all the way to the Samoa Bridges despite the fact that his vehicle lost its right front tire after the collision. Wood exited his vehicle near Woodley Island where we has contacted by an officer with the Eureka Police Department. After a field sobriety test, Wood was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked on charges of driving under the influence, hit and run and probation violation. 

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Original Post: An allegedly inebriated motorist struck a fire hydrant along Samoa Boulevard Sunday evening causing severe flooding to nearby Cooper Building businesses including Richards’ Goat Tavern which was forced to close for the night.

Richard’s Goat co-owner Aimee Hennessy was in the bar’s back office when the incident occurred.

“I just heard this loud crash then a bunch of water landing on the roof,” she said. Both bar staff and customers rushed to shove towels under the doors to attempt to prevent more water from entering the business, briefly trapping them all inside while City of Arcata crews worked to turn of the water main. 

Hennessy said they found car parts near the site of the accident. The driver did not stop.

Another Richard’s Goat employee said that officers told them that the driver was drunk and had been apprehended, though LoCO has been unable to confirm. We have a call in to the Arcata Police Department and will update this post if they call us back.

Hennessy said she hopes to have The Goat in openable condition by tomorrow, but was unsure whether they’d be ready. Other businesses that were closed Sunday but experienced flooding problems were the Hits and Kicks sporting goods store and The Trim Scene barber shop.