Backwards Santa Barbara driver causes thousands of dollars in damage

A driver lost control of his car by driving backwards in a parking lot Saturday night in Santa Barbara, hitting another vehicle, city property, and a water supply system.

It happened at about 9 p.m in the parking lot off Chapala and Victoria Streets.

No one was seriously hurt. The driver was cooperative and checked by responding medics from AMR.

The vehicle had been in the first row of the parking lot when it was driven backwards past multiple cars, striking an SUV and veering over the entrance curb.

It went just past the ticket machine and into the large water system of exposed pipes outside of Victoria Hall. That sent water gushing down Chapala Street. At first, it appeared as if a hydrant had been hit.

Debris was strewn in several directions. The black sedan had major damage.

Santa Barbara City firefighters, police and public works were all called to the scene along with medics.