Full Breakdown
Stolen Tesla Plows onto Pacific Beach Boardwalk, Bystanders Pursue Driver
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On Monday afternoon a man suspected of stealing a Tesla drove the vehicle onto the Pacific Beach boardwalk in San Diego. The car struck a 25-year-old woman at the intersection of Thomas and Reed avenues around 12:40 p.m., leaving her in critical condition, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. After the impact the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Bystander Chase and Detention
Witnesses reported the Tesla traveling at high speed—one estimated “at least 50 mph,” while another described it “going like 70 mph.” The car collided with a San Diego Gas & Electric transformer before reaching the boardwalk. Bystanders, including Alex Srour, pursued the suspect on foot. Srour’s smart-glass camera captured the chase as the driver ran into a nearby parking lot, where he was pinned to the ground by Srour and other pedestrians until police arrived.
Official Response
San Diego Police Department (SDPD) opened a felony hit-and-run investigation and indicated the driver was suspected of being under the influence. A field supervisor terminated the police pursuit due to “increasing risk to public safety.” Lifeguards, fire-rescue personnel, and SDPD officers secured the area, blocked Thomas Avenue and Mission Boulevard for several hours, and reopened the boardwalk by 4 p.m.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Witness accounts differ on the vehicle’s speed, with estimates ranging from 50 mph to 70 mph. No official measurement of speed has been released, leaving the exact velocity unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He hit my bike and it like pushed me really, it like launched me off to the side.” — Alex Srour
- “People don't expect a car to come through the boardwalk like it's just not normal,” — Alex Srour
- “This is a very busy boardwalk. Having someone drive through this area is incredibly frightening,” — Candace Hadley, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesperson
- “I was in the middle of the path and I launched myself off my bike,” — Alex Srour