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Distracted driving crash in Harvard leads to boil water order, school closure, police say

Distracted driving crash in Harvard leads to boil water order, school closure, police say
TODD: THE DAMAGE TO THE FIRE HYDRANT AND THE WATER MAIN HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PEOPLE IN TOWN COULD BE DEALING WITH THE OTHER EFFECTS OF THIS MESS UNTIL TUESDAY. CELLPHONE VIDEO SHOWS THE AFTERMATH OF A CRASH THAT POLICE SAY WAS CAUSED BY DISTRACTED DRIVING. A BROKEN WATER MAIN SENDING WATER SHOOTING LIKE A GEYSTER FROM THE FIRE HYDRANT IN FRONT OF THE BROMFIELD SCHOOL IN HARVARD. PHOTOS POSTED ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S FACEBOOK PAGE SHOW DPW WORKERS REPAIRING THE DAMAGE. STILL, SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW. THERE IS NOW A BOIL WATER ORDER IN EFFECT, BUT THE DPW IS ACTUALLY ASKING RESIDENTS NOT TO USE WHATEVER WATER THEY MIGHT HAVE, BECAUSE THE PRESSURE COULD BE LOW, AND THE PRIORITY IS FILLING THE TOWN’S WATER TANK, WHICH WAS EMPTIED BY THE RUPTURE. >> WE ARE KIND OF DEAD IN THE WATER UNTIL WE GET THE WATER BACK ON. TODD: COFFEE IS BIG BUSINESS AT HARVARD GENERAL STORE, BUT THAT PART OF THE BUSINESS IS NOW IN A TEMPORARY DROUGHT. FIREFIGHTERS DISTRIBUTED BOTTLED WATER TO RESIDENTS TODAY. STILL, THIS IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. >> SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY, THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE AN INCONVENIENCE. TODD: TWN OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL BE AT LEAST THREE DAYS BEFORE DEP CAN LIFT THE BOIL WATER ORDER. TONIGHT, THERE’S NO WORD ON WHAT CHARGES, IF ANY, THE DRIVER IS FACING. TODD KAZAKIEWICH
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Distracted driving crash in Harvard leads to boil water order, school closure, police say
A boil water order has been issued for the town of Harvard after a distracted driver crashed into a fire hydrant near a high school Saturday night.The crash, which caused a water main break, happened at 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bromfield School, according to Harvard police.Video released by police shows water gushing out from the ground near the dislodged hydrant.At about 7:15 a.m., the Harvard Department of Public Works said the town's main water tank was emptied by the broken main.The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection later released a boil water order for the town due to the broken main, according to Tim Kilhart of the Harvard Water Department. Residents are being asked not to use any of the town's water until further notice.Kilhart said the town's water tank is slowly being refilled, but residents will have very limited water and could have low water pressure.A member of the Harvard Fire Department will be going door-to-door, distributing drinking water to all residents. It will be at least three days before the DEP will be able to lift the boil water order, Kilhart said.DPW crews worked to repair the broken water main near Bromfield School on Sunday and had the fix completed by the evening.Due to the construction and the boil water order, the Harvard Public School District has canceled classes Monday.The Harvard Police Department is investigating the crash that led to the broken water main.Anyone with questions regarding the town's water service should call 978-456-4130.

A boil water order has been issued for the town of Harvard after a distracted driver crashed into a fire hydrant near a high school Saturday night.

The crash, which caused a water main break, happened at 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bromfield School, according to Harvard police.

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Video released by police shows water gushing out from the ground near the dislodged hydrant.

At about 7:15 a.m., the Harvard Department of Public Works said the town's main water tank was emptied by the broken main.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection later released a boil water order for the town due to the broken main, according to Tim Kilhart of the Harvard Water Department. Residents are being asked not to use any of the town's water until further notice.

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Kilhart said the town's water tank is slowly being refilled, but residents will have very limited water and could have low water pressure.

A member of the Harvard Fire Department will be going door-to-door, distributing drinking water to all residents. It will be at least three days before the DEP will be able to lift the boil water order, Kilhart said.

DPW crews worked to repair the broken water main near Bromfield School on Sunday and had the fix completed by the evening.

Due to the construction and the boil water order, the Harvard Public School District has canceled classes Monday.

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The Harvard Police Department is investigating the crash that led to the broken water main.

Anyone with questions regarding the town's water service should call 978-456-4130.