A taxi driver who crashed his car near downtown St. John's on Wednesday may have been impaired, police said.

A City Wide cab was headed west on Forest Road when it struck several snow banks and crashed into a pole.

Both the driver and a passenger were taken to hospital with injuries that are believed to have been serious. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is conducting tests to determine whether he was impaired.

Dennis Dooley, the manager of City Wide Taxi, confirmed that the driver was on duty at the time of the incident.

Police said charges have not yet been laid.

Bill Coombs, a Forest Road resident who was working in his basement when he heard the collision, said he saw a drama unfold when he and his wife went outdoors.

"He was bleeding from the nose and the missus, his passenger, she was delusional, but the wife stayed with her until the police and ambulance all arrived," Coombs told CBC News.

Dooley said the passenger was a friend of the driver.

Meanwhile, other drivers approached by CBC News said the incident is an isolated case.

"They got nothing to do with the taxi industry at all," said Derrick Hillier, who drives for Bugden's. "That's just one person's choice, right? He's just making a bad example but every other driver is probably being safe."

Consumer Stacy Doyle said she and other passengers should never have to worry about a driver's condition.

"I always assume the driver is sober, because that's his job," she said. "He's going to drive people around, he should be sober."