CALEB CALIFANO, WPBF 25 NEWS. I’LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT. THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASING BODY CAMERA VIDEO AS DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A CRASH LAST NIGHT AT A WATER PLANT IN HOBE SOUND. THIS CAUSED WATER ISSUES FOR THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS, AND RIGHT NOW, A BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT. ANGELA ROZIER IS LIVE FOR US AT THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AND THE SHERIFF SAYS THIS DRIVER SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL. LAST NIGHT. EXACTLY. WE SPOKE WITH THE SHERIFF HERE IN MARTIN COUNTY EARLIER TODAY, AND I ALSO LEARNED THIS CASE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. AS YOU SAID, THAT DRIVER WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING. IT WOKE ME UP. IT WAS LIKE SO LOUD. WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM. AND THEN ABOUT TWO SECONDS LATER, ANOTHER BOOM. PEOPLE IN THIS MARTIN COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. THIS IS WHAT THEY SAW WATER GUSHING FROM A MAIN TRANSMISSION PIPE AT THE SOUTH MARTIN REGIONAL UTILITY NORTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN HOBE SOUND. THE SHERIFF SAYS THAT ABOUT 9:00 WEDNESDAY NIGHT, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PLANT AFTER FLIPPING OVER THE FENCE OF A SECURED AREA AND DAMAGING THE WATER PIPE. AT SOME POINT, THE CAR HAD TO LEAVE THE GROUND TO CLEAR TO HIT THE TREE WHERE IT WAS HIT, AND THEN THE LAND REALLY ON THE BACK SIDE OF THOSE PIPES. UTILITY OFFICIALS SAY CREWS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE, AND NORMAL WATER PRESSURE WAS RESTORED TO THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. BY 11 P.M., APPROXIMATELY 7000 CUSTOMERS ARE CURRENTLY AFFECTED AND UNDER A PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE. WE WOULD ASK CUSTOMERS TO FOLLOW THAT NOTICE, AND WE’LL LET THEM KNOW IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THAT NOTICE HAS BEEN LIFTED. CREWS ARE BACK AT THE SCENE THURSDAY MORNING, PICKING UP THE REMNANTS OF THE CRASH. OFFICIALS SAY THE DRIVER, IDENTIFIED AS 24 YEAR OLD OLIVER GARZA, RAN OFF AFTER THE CRASH BUT WAS FOUND AFTER A FAMILY MEMBER TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES FROM THE INCIDENT. THEY INTERVIEWED HIM. THEY DID CITE HIM IN THE HOSPITAL, WHICH ARE TECHNICALLY ARREST, BUT BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMICS INVOLVED WITH THAT, THEY’RE ALL MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. THE SHERIFF SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS THAT GARZA’S MEDICAL CONDITION IS TO BLAME ARE NOT ACCURATE. HE SAYS GARZA HAS PAST SPEEDING TICKETS, HAS NEVER HAD A LICENSE AND SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND THE WHEEL REGARDLESS OF HIS MEDICAL CONDITION. THE MAN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A CAR. HE’S NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DRIVE. HE’S BEEN CITED FOR THIS BEFORE. HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY INSURANCE. HE CANNOT DRIVE A CAR LEGALLY. AND AGAIN, THAT PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER ORDER STILL IN EFFECT AT THOSE AREAS IN HOBE SOUND. AND WE UNDERSTAND THEY MAY STAY THERE. THAT NOTICE MAY STA
‘The man should have never been in a car’: Crash at Martin County water plant disrupts service
Updated: 6:54 PM EDT Jun 25, 2026
A vehicle crashed into the South Martin Regional Utility North Water Treatment Plant in Hobe Sound Wednesday night, damaging a main transmission pipe and disrupting water service for thousands of customers. “It woke me up, it was so loud,” Mia Coady, a resident, said.Another resident, Randy Nylen, said, “We heard a loud boom, and then about two seconds later, another boom.” Water gushed from the damaged pipe, and utility officials said crews immediately responded to repair the damage, restoring normal water pressure to hundreds of customers by 11 p.m. “Approximately 7,000 customers are currently affected and under a precautionary boil water notice. We would ask customers to follow that notice, and we’ll let them know immediately once that notice has been lifted,” Matt Hammound, director of South Martin Regional Utility, said. VEHICLE CRASH: Man arrested after crashing into major water pipe, disrupting service in Hobe SoundThe crash occurred when the vehicle flipped over the secured area’s fence and struck the pipe. “At some point, the car had to leave the ground to clear, to hit the tree where it was hit, and then to land really on the backside of those pipes,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said. Crews returned to the scene Thursday morning to clean up the remnants of the crash. The driver, identified as 24-year-old Eliuvar Garza, reportedly fled the scene but was later taken to the hospital by a family member for injuries sustained in the crash. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News“They interviewed him, they did cite him in the hospital, which are technically arrests, but because of the dynamics, they are all misdemeanor charges,” Budensiek said. Budensiek also addressed social media claims that Garza’s medical condition caused the crash, stating that the reports were inaccurate. “Regardless of his medical condition, the man should have never been in a car. He’s not legally allowed to drive, he doesn’t personally have insurance, he cannot drive a car legally,” Budensiek said. Utility officials said the precautionary boil water notice may remain in effect through the weekend.”I’m thankful for the quick response of the Martin County Sheriff’s Officers and the South Martin Regional Utility crews to make the area safe and make the repairs needed,” Hammond said.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —
A vehicle crashed into the South Martin Regional Utility North Water Treatment Plant in Hobe Sound Wednesday night, damaging a main transmission pipe and disrupting water service for thousands of customers.
“It woke me up, it was so loud,” Mia Coady, a resident, said.
Another resident, Randy Nylen, said, “We heard a loud boom, and then about two seconds later, another boom.”
Water gushed from the damaged pipe, and utility officials said crews immediately responded to repair the damage, restoring normal water pressure to hundreds of customers by 11 p.m.
“Approximately 7,000 customers are currently affected and under a precautionary boil water notice. We would ask customers to follow that notice, and we’ll let them know immediately once that notice has been lifted,” Matt Hammound, director of South Martin Regional Utility, said.
VEHICLE CRASH: Man arrested after crashing into major water pipe, disrupting service in Hobe Sound
The crash occurred when the vehicle flipped over the secured area’s fence and struck the pipe.
“At some point, the car had to leave the ground to clear, to hit the tree where it was hit, and then to land really on the backside of those pipes,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Crews returned to the scene Thursday morning to clean up the remnants of the crash.
The driver, identified as 24-year-old Eliuvar Garza, reportedly fled the scene but was later taken to the hospital by a family member for injuries sustained in the crash.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“They interviewed him, they did cite him in the hospital, which are technically arrests, but because of the dynamics, they are all misdemeanor charges,” Budensiek said.
Budensiek also addressed social media claims that Garza’s medical condition caused the crash, stating that the reports were inaccurate.
“Regardless of his medical condition, the man should have never been in a car. He’s not legally allowed to drive, he doesn’t personally have insurance, he cannot drive a car legally,” Budensiek said.
Utility officials said the precautionary boil water notice may remain in effect through the weekend.
“I’m thankful for the quick response of the Martin County Sheriff’s Officers and the South Martin Regional Utility crews to make the area safe and make the repairs needed,” Hammond said.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25