PaulB次元官网网址檚 Motor Inn is digging up its parking lot after a relatively minor traffic accident led to major flooding damage Sunday.

A collision between a 73-year-old Victoria man and a 19-year-old Saanich man occurred in the intersection of Douglas and Chatham streets around 11:30 a.m.

The younger driverB次元官网网址檚 vehicle sheared off a fire hydrant near PaulB次元官网网址檚, flooding the hotelB次元官网网址檚 basement and causing underground pipe damage.

B次元官网网址淚t sent some sort of shockwave down the waterpipe and fractured the pipe down on our land, so weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to dig up to find out where the break is,B次元官网网址� said Ian Powell, managing director of PaulB次元官网网址檚 Motor Inn.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 quite know the extent of the damage yet.B次元官网网址�

Also known as water hammer, pipes can crack from a sudden change in pressure and cause underground leaks.

B次元官网网址淭he pipes are designed for a certain pressure, so when the pressure fluctuates suddenly like that, thereB次元官网网址檚 the potential for it to damage the pipe,B次元官网网址� said John Sturdy, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 assistant director of utilities and facilities.

Sturdy said businesses may have noticed a discolouration of their tap water after the accident, a result of a small amount of silt being disturbed. B次元官网网址淲e flush our water mains regularly to keep silt from building up, so itB次元官网网址檚 nothing to worry about,B次元官网网址� he said.

The drivers of the vehicles were unharmed, while a 67-year-old pedestrian suffered minor injuries. No charges have been laid, but VicPD crash analysts are reviewing the evidence.

Crews began digging up the damaged pipe Monday afternoon, Powell said, adding he will soon have a better idea of the damage.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing what a traffic accident can do,B次元官网网址� he said.

dpalmer@vicnews.com