A man with 18 prior criminal cases stretching back to 2009 is accused of stealing a Tesla, driving it at high speed onto the Pacific Beach Boardwalk in San Diego, and slamming into a 25-year-old woman before bystanders ran him down and tackled him to the ground.
Juan Antonio Gonzaba, 39, allegedly stole the car in La Jolla. The owner tracked the vehicle and alerted police, according to NBC San Diego. Video of the incident shows the blue car careening down the crowded pedestrian walkway as two people dodge out of its path just in time.
Bystander Alex Srour said he chased Gonzaba after the suspect fled on foot and shoved him to the ground. Srour’s smart glasses captured the moment.
“He hit my bike, and it like pushed me really, it like launched me off to the side. People don’t expect a car to come through the boardwalk, like it’s just not normal,” Srour said.
The woman struck by the car was hospitalized with a fractured spine, broken ribs, and a cut requiring 20 stitches, according to reports.
Gonzaba is suspected of being under the influence at the time. He has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, hit-and-run, and auto theft, and is being held without bail. He pleaded not guilty at his court appearance, per NBC San Diego.
A Long Record
Court records reviewed by 10 News show Gonzaba has 18 previous criminal cases dating back to 2009, with the most recent occurring last year. Those cases span burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft, and attempted kidnapping across San Diego, East County, and South County. Records show he has cycled in and out of prison for years.
