A motorist lost control of a 1988 Mercury four-door Wednesday, and the vehicle flew off 14th Street West and onto the top of a water backflow fixture, releasing a 20-foot spray that doused a car lot.
Dozens of spectators slowed to watch the liquid fireworks as firefighters and city water employees worked to extract the upside-down car without further fracturing the water equipment.
The Florida Highway Patrol, which investigated the 10:55 a.m. accident, said Franky G. Pickens, 18, of Bradenton, was driving his Mercury southbound along 14th Street West just south of Orlando Avenue when his decision to change lanes set the mess in motion.
When Pickens attempted to change into the left lane, he didn't see a 1997 International driven by Michael T. Smith, 37, of Palmetto. Pickens struck Smith's vehicle and lost control of the Mercury.
Pickens, who was wearing a seat belt, was cited for an improper lane change, state Trooper Todd A. Bergman said.
After striking Smith's vehicle, the Mercury crossed into the northbound lanes of 14th Street West. Then an attempt to regain control of the Mercury failed, Bergman said.
The Mercury traveled back across the southbound lanes, rotated counter-clockwise and struck the curb. Airborne, the car took out a tree, flipped over and struck a fire hydrant and fire-lane backflow valve.
Pickens suffered minor injuries, and Smith was uninjured, the highway patrol said. Neither car carried a passenger.
The water-valve handle was stuck up inside the car, and workers had to pull the car off to get at it.
Spray shot into a lot at Tropical Cadillac, and cars had to be moved to get them out of the downpour.
