Driver Runs into Pedestrians on Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf
Van Strikes at Least Four People and a Couple of Vehicles
What has been described as a “mass casualty” event occurred at Stearns Wharf along Santa Barbara’s waterfront shortly before 4 p.m. today. Multiple calls to 9-1-1 brought city police and Harbor Patrol officers to the far end of the wharf, where a male driver had driven into several people. He was driving a large white van with “The Big Easy” painted on the side.
Five were taken to the hospital by ambulance, including the driver. Two people suffered moderate injuries, and two had complaints of pain, said Lieutenant Ryan DeJohn of the Santa Barbara Police Department. No one had fallen into the water.
Lt. DeJohn said the driver had remained on scene and was currently being interviewed by investigators. The cause of the incident was still under investigation, he said, but police did not believe it was intentional.
The incident took place in front of Moby Dick. Restaurant manager Debbie Pech said, “The driver hit quite a few cars and then rear-ended a car full of people pretty hard.” The van had come to a halt at the picnic tables near the Shellfish Company, Pech said.
This report is being updated as information becomes available.