If you drive on northbound Highway 17 in Campbell, you may have seen a giant silver ant on a hill near the Camden Avenue exit. For nearly a year, the quirky landmark stood proudly, making commuters smile. Now, it has been destroyed. According to NBC Bay Area’s Marianne Favro, who spoke with loc als reacting to the vandalism, people cannot believe someone targeted the art. The 5-foot-long insect was so popular that people would regularly pull over, run up the hill and take photos with it. The sculpture is a mangled mess on the side of the road, with its broken pieces left in a heap at the highway entrance. Pete Flores of San Jose, who works across the street from the site, said the giant ant mysteriously showed up after Burning Man last year and instantly infused fun into the area. “They killed the ant,” Flores said. “It was just cool. At Christmastime, someone put a hat on and lights around its neck and people would take pictures with it.” Justus Williams of San Jose, who previously posed with the ant, said seeing it destroyed really bugs him. “I think it’s pretty upsetting and sad that someone went out of their way to destroy something someone took the time to create,” Williams said. It is not known who created the sculpture, who put it on the hill or who recently destroyed it. Campbell police drove by the site to check out what is left of the ant but noted it is not an official city landmark and they have not received any crime reports about it. As some mourn the loss of the giant ant, others are already considering ways to honor it. “We might have to put one up ourselves, put another ant up there,” Flores said. ...read more read less