A stolen Tesla mounted a San Diego boardwalk Monday afternoon, striking a pedestrian and narrowly missing several others before a bystander apprehended the driver. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. when police attempted to pull over a blue Tesla Model X, which had allegedly been stolen earlier that day.
The driver, identified as 39-year-old Juan Antonio Gonzaba, failed to stop and instead sped off, hitting an SDG&E transformer before driving onto the Pacific Beach boardwalk. The vehicle continued at high speed, with witnesses describing pedestrians diving out of its path.
At approximately 12:40 p.m., the Tesla collided with a 25-year-old woman, causing significant injuries. She sustained two fractured ribs, two fractured vertebrae, and an abdominal laceration, according to police.
"A lot of people dove out of the way very quickly and it really could have been so much worse," said Candace Hadley, San Diego Fire Department Public Information Officer. "This is a very busy boardwalk, having someone drive through this area is incredibly frightening."
Witnesses reported hearing a commotion before seeing the Tesla speed past. Alex Srour, who was wearing Meta glasses and was recording the incident, had to swerve off his bike to avoid being hit.
Following the collision on the boardwalk, police terminated the pursuit due to public safety concerns. Gonzaba eventually stopped the Tesla near Baja Beach Cafe at Thomas Avenue. Several bystanders then engaged in a foot chase with the driver.
Srour pursued and apprehended Gonzaba, detaining him until police arrived. Footage shows Gonzaba apologizing as Srour berates him for his actions. Police arrested Gonzaba on suspicion of being under the influence and a felony hit-and-run investigation is ongoing.
The boardwalk was closed for several hours, reopening around 4 p.m. on Monday.