A truck caused major damage to vehicles and buildings following an incident at Country Club Centre on Monday evening. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

CHAOTIC SCENE

‘I heard a huge crashing noise like an explosion:’ Truck causes extensive damage at Country Club Centre

Jan 6, 2020 | 12:23 PM

NANAIMO — Eyewitnesses suggest an argument between a truck driver and a friend led to extensive damage at Country Club Centre on Monday Jan. 6.

Shortly before 7 p.m., officers were called to the mall after a truck hit concrete pillars outside Shoppers Drug Mart then multiple vehicles.

The truck then rammed into a concrete wall by Running Room and finally ramming the outside wall of CIBC at high speed.

“I was at the Save On, as I was leaving I heard a huge crashing noise like an explosion,” a witness who wished to remain anonymous told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I heard tires squealing and I saw a truck slam right into the CIBC building…it was pretty intense.”

A male driver in his 30’s was arrested by Nanaimo RCMP and taken from the scene by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. No-one else was in the vehicle.

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Police also said they are investigating possible drug impairment by the driver.

Tarun Kumar was in the first of at least two vehicles hit by the truck.

“I was driving down to Shoppers by the stop sign. 20 metres before I saw a guy and the driver of the truck arguing,” Kumar said. “My car came to the stop sign and I realized he’d reverse into me then he bumped into me. All the airbags opened, I jumped out of the car through the back door.”

Kumar was alone in the vehicle and did not suffer any injuries.

“Never in a million years did I think I’d see something like this in Nanaimo, the level of destruction is pretty intense,” an eyewitness stated.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley