SUV crashes into Nanaimo sushi restaurant

An SUV is seen after crashing into a sushi restaurant in this image handed out by the Nanaimo RCMP.

Customers at a downtown Nanaimo sushi restaurant were shaken after an SUV crashed into the storefront on Monday, according to police.

RCMP, firefighters and paramedics were called to Nana Sushi around 7:45 p.m., where a black SUV had lodged into the front of the restaurant.

Several patrons suffered minor injuries in the crash and the restaurant was left with extensive damage, police said.

Officers detained the driver, a man in his 40s, as they suspected he was impaired by drugs based on observation, according to a news release issued Tuesday. He was later taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The vehicle was towed away for forensic examination.

Police say the cause of the crash remains under investigation and no charges have been laid.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo detachment at 250-754-2345.