A tragic incident unfolded when a man, who had just purchased flowers for his wife, was unexpectedly struck by a flying fire hydrant in a rare accident. The unfortunate event took place on an East Bay street, where Humberto Hernandez lost his life due to a blown tire on a driver’s vehicle causing the hydrant to become airborne.
Investigating officer Eddie Bermudez revealed that Humberto’s untimely demise was due to an extraordinary occurrence, as a slight shift in his position on the pavement could have prevented the fatal impact. Walking with his wife after acquiring flowers and cherries for their dinner outing, Humberto was unexpectedly hit by the hydrant propelled by a Ford Escape that had veered off the road due to the tire blowout.
Describing the unusual chain of events, Bermudez highlighted how the hydrant’s forceful trajectory led to the tragic outcome for Humberto, who was struck on the back of his head while walking ahead of his wife. The incident, which resulted in Humberto’s death at the scene, left his wife unharmed, with the couple having recently relocated to the United States and residing in a trailer.
Despite the shocking nature of the incident, authorities noted that the hydrant’s impact was so intense that it resembled a projectile, emphasizing the rarity of such a fatality. Humberto’s wife, devoid of any immediate support or resources in the country, was left to cope with the sudden loss of her husband in a heartbreaking turn of events.