A man driving a stolen Tesla entered the Pacific Beach sidewalk in San Diego on Monday and hit a woman. The incident occurred at 12:40 PM at the intersection of Thomas and Reed streets, and the 25-year-old woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police Chase
San Diego police responded to a report of a stolen Tesla being tracked by its owner at 12:20 PM. About 10 minutes later, officers identified the Tesla traveling south on Mission Boulevard. They attempted to stop the driver, but he refused to pull over, and a chase ensued.
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During the chase, the driver collided with a transformer belonging to San Diego Gas and Electric and continued toward the Pacific Beach sidewalk. Due to increased danger to public safety, a field supervisor decided to terminate the chase.
Presence of Bystanders and Driver's Pursuit
The stolen Tesla then sped north on the Pacific Beach sidewalk, driving close to pedestrians. One witness, Miguel Valli, said, "I just heard some strange noises and then I heard a crash that clearly hit a woman." He continued, "Moments later, a dark blue Tesla sped past me at 50 miles per hour."
The male driver then stopped the vehicle in front of the Baja Beach Cafe, and a bystander, Alex Server, ran after him and recorded the chase with Meta glasses that had a built-in camera. In the video, Server takes the man to the ground, and a conversation ensues between them. He tells the man to stay on the ground, and the man appears to be asking him for help.
Server and other bystanders detained the man until police officers arrived on the scene. San Diego police are investigating the accident and the felony hit-and-run, and it appears the driver was under the influence of drugs. Lifeguards, followed by firefighters and police, quickly responded to the incident. Another woman who moved out of the way during the incident is currently in good condition. After the incident, police blocked the area at the intersection of Thomas and Mission streets for several hours, and the sidewalk was reopened by 4 PM.
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