Very early Tuesday morning, June 18, a car sped down the Ocean Beach Pier, doing burnouts, striking 2 people and a police cruiser before fleeing off into the darkness. Police are currently searching for the driver in a black Acura hatchback last seen on West Point Loma Avenue.
The 2 people hit had fortunately only minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
People fishing at the pier called 911 around 1:30 am reporting a car speeding down the pier, doing 50 mph and doing burnouts – or spinouts.
When the black Acura reached the end of the OB Pier, witnesses reported, it did the spinouts, turned around and sped back towards the entrance. This is when the 2 people, who were fishing, were injured. According to witnesses, the driver – described as heavyset with a beard – was smiling as he drove.
A police officer tried to block the entrance with the patrol vehicle, but the Acuna rammed it, got stuck briefly, but by revving the engine, the reckless driver pushed through and drove off. The officer was not injured.
Police pursed the 2005 Acuna but it got away, last seen on West Point Loma.
The Acura also had a lowered suspension, a cracked windshield and custom wheels. A partial plate number was captured.
One person fishing told 7SanDiego:
“We all got off our chairs or else he would have swiped us for sure.”
Police confirmed:
“No serious injuries to the bystanders but they were struck nonetheless.”
The driver faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run against the police vehicle, police said.
Sources:
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
b
Is the “2005” a typo? If they aren’t even sure it was an Acura, they probably don’t know the year it was made.
Anyway, hope they catch the guy and put him away for life for actions that could easily have killed multiple people. I hope this wasn’t a test run for a terrorist car attack like the one that killed many people at the beach in France a few years ago.
Perhaps this motorist was curious about whether the Pier was really open after being closed for repairs for so long? Since it was late and he was drunk, it was just easier to drive down for a look.