Crash into fire hydrant fills stolen truck with water

Within 15 minutes of stealing a pickup, a teenager managed to overturn the truck, fill the cab with water from a fire hydrant he hit and flee the scene, according to Smyrna police.

Kevin Todd Tatum, 19, of Mableton was driving at a high rate of speed as he traveled south on Cooper Lake Road towards the East-West Connector last Sunday.

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Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Department

Smyrna police say Kevin Todd Tatum stole a truck, hit a fire hyrdrant and then fled the scene.

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But before he reached the connector, he crossed the center line in the stolen Ford F150, causing the truck to turn over onto the driver’s side, according to an arrest warrant.

The burgundy truck then struck and severely damaged a fire hydrant, filling the inside of the vehicle with water, police said. Tatum then apparently left the scene of the accident on foot, without notifying authorities.

Police found an open 24-ounce Corona bottle in the truck, according to the warrant. The incident is Tatum’s third offense for violating the open container law, according to police.

When arrested, Tatum will face numerous charges, according to the warrant.

Tatum’s driver’s license was suspended on Jan. 2 and was not valid at the time of the incident, police said. In July 2008, his license was surrendered due to a prior DUI charge.