A suspected stolen Tesla drove onto the Pacific Beach boardwalk, striking pedestrians and a bicyclist before stopping near Baja Beach Cafe. A 25-year-old woman was critically injured and taken to hospital; a bicyclist who says he was hit posted footage of bystanders chasing the fleeing driver. Civilians detained the suspect after police had ended their vehicle pursuit; authorities opened a felony hit-and-run probe and suspected impairment, though no formal charges were publicly reported Monday evening.
Stolen Tesla Rams Pacific Beach Boardwalk; Bystanders Chase And Detain Fleeing Driver
Image Credit: NBC 7 San Diego.
A suspected stolen Tesla crashed onto the Pacific Beach boardwalk on Monday afternoon, critically injuring a 25-year-old woman before the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Bystanders pursued and detained the man until San Diego police arrived.
What Happened
According to local outlets, the sequence began roughly 20 minutes earlier when the vehicle’s owner reported it stolen and told police the car could be tracked through its app. Officers located the Tesla traveling south on Mission Boulevard and attempted to stop it, ABC 10News reported, citing the San Diego Police Department.
The driver did not comply. Police followed the vehicle until a supervisor called off the pursuit because of increasing danger to the public, NBC 7 San Diego reported. The Tesla continued, struck an SDG&E transformer and then turned toward the waterfront.
Boardwalk Collision And Aftermath
The vehicle entered the boardwalk from Pacific Beach Drive and sped north through an area crowded with pedestrians and cyclists. A 25-year-old woman was struck near Thomas and Reed avenues at about 12:40 p.m. and was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
One bicyclist, identified by NBC as Alex Srour, posted on Instagram that he had been on his routine after-work ride when the car struck him. Srour estimated the Tesla’s speed at more than 70 mph; that figure is his estimate and not an official measurement.
The Tesla came to a stop in front of Baja Beach Cafe. The driver exited and ran; footage shared by Srour shows several bystanders joining a foot pursuit. The group caught the man in a nearby parking area and held him until officers took him into custody, NBC reported.
Investigation And Public Safety
San Diego police said they were conducting a felony hit-and-run investigation and reported that the driver was suspected of being under the influence. Those descriptions reflect an active investigation; as of Monday evening public reports had not identified the suspect publicly or listed formal charges, booking details, bail amounts, or court dates.
San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Candace Hadley told NBC that numerous people dove out of the Tesla’s path; another woman who jumped clear was evaluated by emergency responders. Police kept part of the area near Thomas Avenue and Mission Boulevard closed for several hours; the boardwalk had reopened by about 4 p.m.
Sources: ABC 10News, NBC 7 San Diego, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Fire-Rescue.
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