SUV crashes into Columbia insurance office

An Jeep Cherokee crashed into a Columbia insurance office Saturday evening and sent one man to the hospital with serious injuries.

The crash happened around 7:27 p.m. at the Shelter Insurance Office at 1905 West Ash Street, just off Stadium Boulevard and near Columbia Mall.

According to a Columbia Fire Department news release later, the driver was taken to University Hospital as a “trauma alert” because of serious injuries. His condition was not released late Saturday.

A representative from the city’s Building and Site Development Department said the building was safe to occupy Saturday, despite significant damage to the outside and areas inside.

Columbia police were investigating the cause of the crash. A damage estimate for the building was not released late Saturday.

Fire and medics remained at the scene for more than one hour before turning the building back over to the owner.