OAKLAND - In a wreck that shocked even police, a gusher from a fire hydrant hit by a suspected drunk driver’s car Monday almost drowned a passenger in the vehicle.

The passenger, Walker Tiller, 59, of Oakland, who was knocked unconscious by the impact, was rescued from the flooding 1993 Pontiac Bonneville by a rookie police officer and two residents of the area, police said.

Traffic Sgt. Steve Paich, a 10-year veteran, said Tuesday, “I’ve never heard of anything like this happening before.”

He polled other veteran officers, including one with 30 years experience, who said the same thing.

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“For the car to be perfectly positioned over the hydrant and the water gushing in is just bizarre,” Paich said.

The driver, Drexel Mitchell, 55, of Oakland, who police said has a suspended license as the result of prior driving under the influence convictions, was arrested.