Walla Walla brewery reopens after student driver hits fire hydrant
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — A local brewery is back in business Tuesday after a student driver’s weekend mishap sent water rushing and forced the taps to run dry.
Burwood Brewing Company, located at 1120 E St., was forced to shutter its doors along with vendor, Twist and Crust, after a vehicle struck a fire hydrant at 12:21 p.m. Sunday on the property. The collision necessitated an immediate water shutoff to the entire building.
Walla Walla County Undersheriff Joe Klundt said a 15-year-old female student confused the brake and gas pedals in the business parking lot.
“Her mom’s 2019 KIA Sorento ended up stuck on a fire hydrant in the parking lot,” Klundt explained.
The damaged hydrant, which is Port of Walla Walla property, was repaired. By Tuesday morning, the brewery confirmed that water service had been restored and operations would resume as normal.
In a social media post addressing the incident, the brewery noted that the crash served as an “expensive lesson” for those involved.
“If you’re teaching someone to drive, don’t trespass onto private property and don’t practice parking in a spot where you could hit something,” the company shared.
The brewery did not disclose the total cost of the damage or how much revenue was lost due to being closed by the accident.
WWCSO reported there were no injuries and the student driver was not cited.
Photos from Burwood Brewing Company
