A man wearing Meta glasses chased down and detained a hit-and-run driver after a stolen Tesla plowed through a crowded San Diego boardwalk on Monday.
Juan Antonio Gonzaba, 39, allegedly stole a blue Tesla Model X shortly after noon before leading police on a pursuit that ended with multiple injuries and a dramatic citizen’s arrest on Pacific Beach. The incident began around 12:30 p.m. When officers spotted the stolen vehicle driving down Mission Boulevard and attempted a traffic stop.
Gonzaba fled, striking an SDG&E transformer before mounting the boardwalk at Pacific Beach and speeding past pedestrians. Alex Srour, who was wearing Meta glasses, captured the chaos on camera as people scrambled to safety. “I was in the middle of the path and I launched myself off my bike,” Srour said.
At 12:40 p.m., the Tesla struck a 25-year-old woman walking along the boardwalk. She suffered two fractured right ribs, two fractured vertebrae, and a laceration to her abdomen, according to police. The boardwalk was closed for several hours and reopened around 4 p.m.
Candace Hadley, San Diego Fire Department Public Information Officer, described the scene to NBC San Diego. “A lot of people dove out of the way very quickly and it really could have been so much worse,” Hadley said. “This is a very busy boardwalk, having someone drive through this area is incredibly frightening.”
Witness Miguel Valle described hearing the collision before seeing the vehicle speed past. “I just heard some sounds down there, commotion like something hit something and obviously he hit a gal over here, and so that was the sound that I heard,” Valle said. “Then a moment later I see a navy blue Tesla flying by me at least 50 mph, trying to get away from the pursuit.”
Police terminated the pursuit due to public safety concerns. Gonzaba stopped the Tesla on the boardwalk near Baja Beach Cafe and attempted to flee on foot. Srour sprinted after him, caught up, and held him for police. Footage shows Gonzaba apologizing as Srour berated him.
Police arrested Gonzaba and are conducting a felony hit-and-run investigation. He is suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
