Truck clips fire hydrant, shuts down Arlington Hts. intersection

A busy Arlington Heights intersection was shut down Wednesday morning after a truck plowed over a fire hydrant, police said.

"It was knocked right off its base," said Arlington Heights police Sgt. Jerry Lehnert. "There was a lot of water in the area until public works arrived to shut off the main feed to the hydrant."

The accident occurred around 7:20 a.m. at Arlington Heights and Lake-Cook roads. The driver was heading south on Arlington Heights Road when he turned into the Terramere Shopping Center and ended up clipping the hydrant with the truck's rear axle, Lehnert said.

Arlington Heights Road was closed for about an hour while crews shut off the hydrant and waited for the standing water to drain into storm sewers, Lehnert said.

No one was injured, and no other vehicles were damaged.

The driver was issued two tickets -- one for improper turning and one for damaging village property, Lehnert said.