Driver crashes into SF fire hydrant, soaks homeless shelter

A driver crashed into a fire hydrant Monday morning on Sixth and Minna streets, which subsequently caused water damage to a homeless shelter nearby, officials said. The orange cone replaces the spot where the fire hydrant used to be. less A driver crashed into a fire hydrant Monday morning on Sixth and Minna streets, which subsequently caused water damage to a homeless shelter nearby, officials said. The orange cone replaces the spot where the ... more Photo: Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle / Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle Photo: Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle / Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Driver crashes into SF fire hydrant, soaks homeless shelter 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A driver slammed into a fire hydrant in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood in an apparent hit-and-run Monday morning, triggering a geyser that caused significant water damage to a nearby homeless shelter, officials said.

The fire department received calls of water surging from the knocked over hydrant on the corner of Sixth and Minna streets about 5:45 a.m. The water was shut off about 6:20 a.m.

The fire hydrant came off completely and caused water damage to the first floor and basement of a homeless shelter next to the hydrant, said Battalion Chief PeteFay Jr. of the San Francisco Fire Department,

Fay added that by about 8 a.m. the fire department had sucked out most of the water that seeped into Cityteam International, which provides food and shelter to those dealing with homelessness and addiction.

The driver fled, but left behind a piece of the vehicle, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department. It’s unclear what part of the vehicle was left behind.

Becky Shay, who owns the building that houses the homeless shelter, was shocked to wake up and hear that the building had been damaged.

“It’s pretty disheartening,” Shay said, as she stared up at the building with tears filling her eyes.

Jay Cramer, 49, who lives at the homeless shelter, said he heard the crash and looked outside his window on the third floor. He saw the driver pull away from the curb shortly after hitting the hydrant.

“I don’t know how he did that, the car was demolished,” Cramer said. “The front end of the car was all smashed up.”

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani