WEST HOLLYWOOD—Following the water main rupture in West Hollywood, a Los Angeles businessman and resident suffered a brutal fall on a street near the breakage. On July 16, RJ Holguin, owner of My 12 Step Store and RJDesign LA, was walking across Santa Monica Boulevard at 11:30 p.m. and fell on a muddy, waterlogged street after jumping back from an approaching vehicle. 

The water main rupture caused the streets of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive to become submerged in gallons of water. A giant sinkhole was the result of the sinkhole. 

Holguin, whose building was flooded left home that night to investigate. He parked his car near his building and while walking on a marked crosswalk on Santa Monica Boulevard avoiding a car collision at about 12 a.m. it was noted on Holguin’s Facebook page. 

Holguin told WeHo Times he felt an “electric shock” course through his body before he lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, he reportedly struggled to speak and felt little sensation in his palms.

Holguin was taken to a hospital and reported injuries to the C3 to C6 vertebrae that compressed his spinal cord, leading to central cord syndrome. This condition can allegedly rob patients of movement and sensation in the hands and arms.

Photo courtesy of Russ-Jon RJ Holguin Facebook page.

On Monday, July 27, the following message was posted on Holguin’s Facebook page:

“Following RJ’s devastating water main-related accident in West Hollywood and his successful spinal cord surgery at Cedars-Sinai, today marks Day 12 of his recovery journey.

RJ has now been transferred from Cedars-Sinai to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital’s Acute Rehabilitation Center, where he’ll begin the next phase of his recovery.
While the hospital is currently undergoing renovations, the staff has been absolutely outstanding and has gone above and beyond to make RJ feel comfortable and supported. Here, he is receiving Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech Therapy, with a tentative discharge date of August 8.”

City crews have spent days repairing the damage caused by the water main rupture. Sunset Boulevard was reopened to traffic on July 24.