The driver of a van heading the wrong way down State Street crashed into a sidewalk pillar near the Gutierrez Street intersection in downtown Santa Barbara on Thursday evening.

The force of the impact severed the concrete column at its base and propelled it about 10 yards into the street. Santa Barbara firefighters on the scene estimated the weight of the pillar at about 2,000 pounds.

Traveling south, the white Ford van was believed to have been speeding before veering off to the left into the northbound lanes and crashing in the 300 block of State Street, Santa Barbara police Lt. Kenneth Kushner told Noozhawk.

He said no one was injured but the driver, who was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The driver’s identity was not released.

The crash occurred in front of Casa Blanca Restaurant & Cantina, 330 State St., and Santa Barbara Rock Gym, 322 State St. Neither business was affected but Casa Blanca patrons watched the incident unfold.

Kushner said police are investigating the crash as a possible case of driving under the influence. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Sam Goldman can be reached at sgoldman@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.