Prospect Avenue in East Meadow has reopened following a water main break.

The road had been closed from Evergreen Lane to Chestnut Lane for hours following a 14-inch water main break.

Residents said it looked like a river was flowing down the East Meadow road. They said the pressure from the break lifted a car and carried it down the street. The Commissioner of the Town of Hempstead Water Department, John Reinhardt said a portion of Prospect Avenue partially collapsed due to the break. It had buckled under the pressure.

Reinhardt told News 12 that this is the third water main break on Prospect Avenue in 5 years. He says to it will be top priority when planning the budget in the coming months.

"When we start to see an increase in events like we had here, after our March event, we've been planning to put it in to our 5-year capital plan. It’s going to be considered as we prepare that plan this fall," added the Commissioner.

Reinhardt explained that water main breaks can be caused by a number of different things including construction and repaving, two things Prospect Avenue has recently experienced.

The Water Department was able to restore water to affected homes and the Beth-El Jewish Center seven hours after the break was discovered.