UPDATED: Snow Plow Strikes Hydrant, Water Floods Basements in Newton Highlands

[UPDATED Feb. 16, 9:44 a.m.]

A snow plow struck a fire hydrant on Rte. 9 in the early hours of Saturday morning, sending a deluge of water into nearby homes in Newton Highlands.

Newton firefighters helped residents pump out water from basements that got as deep as four feet, said Newton Fire Lt. Matt Pacheco. Most of the effected homes were on Lantern Lane, but homes on Duxbury Road also took in water.

Duxbury Road resident Richard Weintraub said he didn't know about the flooding until he awoke Saturday morning. 

"I thought I heard pumping, then I went into my basement," Weintraub said.

He uses his basement for storage, but it also houses his furnace and other mechanical items.

"We have no heat or hot water," Weintraub said.

Eight houses in the neighborhood flooded, Pacheco said. One home had a Subaru station wagon parked behind the house on a sloping driveway which sustained heavy water damage.

"All but four inches of the car was underwater," Pacheco said. 

The flood was caused by a snow plow that hit a hydrant on Rte. 9 at about 4 a.m. Saturday, which is a short block from Lantern Lane.

"It is supposed to shear off, but it didn't," Pacheco said.