ABC10News20-year-old Angelo Montoya is a student at SDSU and works late night shifts delivering food for Door Dash. He was driving in Ocean Beach on Tuesday [Feb.20] at around 2 a.m., when he says he saw a man and a woman fighting outside a parked Camry in the middle of the road.
“I see a lady coming out of the car, running, and the man has his hands on her,” Montoya said.
Montoya says the woman ran towards him, begging for help. He called 9-1-1, let her into his car, and drove away. Video from Montoya’s Tesla shows what happened next. The man got into the Camry and sped up beside them. “I didn’t expect anything else to happen. I then see the car pull up, and he starts banging against my car,” Montoya said.
From Angelo Montoya’s GoFundMe:
In the early hours of February 20th, while fulfilling a DoorDash delivery as part of my side job to support my full-time studies at San Diego State University, I encountered a situation that profoundly impacted my life.
At around 1:30 AM, I witnessed a distressing scene: a woman in dire need of help, attempting to escape an aggressor. Initially, I drove past, uncertain of the situation, but my conscience wouldn’t allow me to ignore her pleas. Turning back, I realized the gravity of the situation as she desperately called out, “Please don’t leave me.”
As I attempted to intervene, aiming to be a Good Samaritan in a moment of crisis and trying to save a domestic violence victim, the aggressor turned his hostility towards me, striking my car window and making it clear he was willing to harm anyone in his path. In a moment of quick thinking, I called 911 and offered the woman refuge in my car—a Tesla I had earned through years of hard work at In-N-Out during high school.
What followed was a terrifying pursuit. The aggressor, using his white Camry, repeatedly tried to ram my car, endangering us further. Despite multiple opportunities to retaliate, I focused solely on our safety, avoiding confrontation at all costs. The chase ended dramatically when he crashed into my vehicle, causing us to collide with parked cars. Thankfully, the police arrived shortly after, apprehending the aggressor, and ensuring the woman’s safety.
This ordeal has left me with injuries and the loss of my primary means of income and transportation. My car, essential for my delivery work, was totaled, leaving me facing financial hardship. At 20 years old, navigating university life and living independently, this setback has been devastating. My mother is supporting me as best she can, helping to seek legal recourse, but the road ahead is daunting.
The lesson from this harrowing experience is clear: domestic violence is a pervasive issue that requires our collective attention and action. I intervened because it was the right thing to do, aiming to be a Good Samaritan and trying to save a domestic violence victim, yet I could never have anticipated the consequences.
Today, I reach out for your support. The financial strain from this incident has jeopardized my education and livelihood. Any assistance would be incredibly appreciated as I work to rebuild my life and continue my studies. Your generosity can help alleviate the burden of medical bills, legal fees, and the urgent need for transportation.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. It’s a reminder of the unpredictable challenges we may face and the impact of standing up for what is right, even when it comes at a personal cost.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow.I’m, sadly, not in a position to help, but I am grateful that your humanity stepped up. And that, when some of the impact hopefully fades, that this will confirm for you that your actions were right and your choice will bring you a confirmation of how we should be, as humans, to one another, regardless of how it affects our own lives. Thank you, I am heartened to know people like you are out there. I hope others who can, will step up to help you restore your journey. :-)
Thank you for being so kind and concerned for this woman and probably saving her life. BTW – Who is the wacko that got busted? Hopefully a good lawyer is helping Angelo bring a civil suit against this maniac.
Angelo, thank you for helping this woman. Stories like yours remind me to have faith in my fellow Americans…especially in these times. Please keep doing well and get that degree.
I hate to say it, but this guy’s story has my antenna twitching. He bought a Tesla after working at In-and-Out and he is only 2o years old? Something is not right here.
Also, I thought Door Dash required proof of adequate insurance to drive for them.
My son bought a 2-year old Lexus IS300, working at a restaurant when he was 19 or 20. Some kids can do it. Most don’t. You shouldn’t judge.
I was not judging anyone, I simply pointed out that it seemed very odd. And a restaurant is different from In and Out. They don’t get tips at the burger place like they do in a restaurant.
Assuming a 40 hour work week at $13.55/hour, 52 weeks/year for four years of high school, it’s possible, albeit challenging.