In the United States, a significant water main break occurred on July 16, 2026, in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, leading to severe flooding and infrastructure damage. The break involved a 110-year-old, 36-inch trunk line near Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive, releasing approximately 17 million gallons of water. This incident resulted in flooded streets, homes, and underground parking garages, prompting city crews to work for days on repairs. The area was reopened to traffic on July 24, 2026, following extensive restoration efforts.
RJ Holguin, a prominent businessman and owner of My 12 Step Store and RJDesign LA, was directly affected by the water main break. After learning that his building's garage had flooded, he went to retrieve his car and parked it near his business. Later that night, around 11:30 p.m., while walking through a marked crosswalk on Santa Monica Boulevard, he noticed an approaching vehicle and jumped backward to avoid it. Unfortunately, he lost his footing on the muddy roadway left by the water main break, leading to a severe fall.
Upon falling, Holguin experienced an electric shock sensation and subsequently blacked out. When he regained consciousness, he found himself struggling to speak and had diminished feeling in his hands. Medical evaluations revealed that he had sustained injuries to the C3 through C6 vertebrae, which compressed his spinal cord and resulted in central cord syndrome. This condition can severely impact movement and sensation, particularly in the upper body, including the hands and arms.
Following surgery, Holguin was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation unit, where he is currently undergoing physical and speech therapy. He expressed that the recovery process is challenging but has made some progress. Holguin also reflected on the emotional toll of this injury, noting that it set him back significantly in his recovery from a previous vocal cord injury he had been working to overcome for nearly 16 years. Despite the difficulties, he remains grateful for his survival and the support he has received from friends, family, and the West Hollywood community.
