A driver caused a huge mess overnight after he veered off a freeway in east San Diego and crashed into a car dealership.
Just before 2 a.m., a man behind the wheel of a white BMW lost control on State Route 94 in La Mesa and plowed into the Steve Bancroft Motors dealership in the 8700 block of Campo Road.
He crashed into at least one parked car at the dealership that still had its $9,950 price tag sticker on the windshield. It’s unclear if other vehicles were damaged in the accident.
Shattered glass, car parts and other debris was strewn about the dealership.
The man remained at the scene and was later led away in handcuffs by officials. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said he suffered some injuries and was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital for treatment. No one else was hurt.
The crash is under investigation, and no further details were immediately released. Officials have not yet confirmed if DUI is suspected.
Lymen Tran, a witness who was working at a Wendy’s restaurant across the street from the car dealership, said the crash happened quickly, with the driver flying right off the freeway.
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“The car was at the pavement right there on the off-ramp. He just flew right over the ledge and then he caught some air,” Tran explained. “He caught a lot of air.”
Tran said he then heard a very loud “boom” as the driver slammed into several cars at the dealership.
“He just smashed right through the gate, hit multiple cars and went through. And I was just like, ‘[That’s] some stuff, man,’” the witness added.
In the light of day Saturday morning, the aftermath of the crash could be seen clearly at the car dealership as the damaged cars remained on the lot.
NBC 7 spoke with Oscar Hernandez, a manager at the Steve Bancroft Motors, who said he learned of the accident after receiving a phone call at 2 a.m. He then had to go to the dealership to open the gate.
“Come to find out, there was an extra car in the lot and lots of dirt and debris,” he told NBC 7.
Hernandez said officials told him the driver had been under the influence at the time of the crash, which he said was very upsetting. He said CHP also reported the driver was traveling at more than 100 mph.
“He should’ve been more responsible,” he lamented. “Luckily, we have insurance. We have to move on.”
Hernandez said it was fortunate the crash happened when the dealership was closed – not when customers and employees were there, walking around the lot and looking at cars.
“That would’ve been the worst,” he added.
