A severe accident occurred in the Pacific Beach neighborhood when a 54-year-old man test-driving a new 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning lost control of the vehicle, striking a salesperson in the dealership parking lot. According to the San Diego Police Department's Watch Commander's Log, the incident happened at 4500 Mission Bay Drive just after 1:30 pm yesterday, where the electric truck abruptly launched forward during what was supposed to be a routine vehicle demonstration.
The collision resulted in horrific injuries for the 31-year-old salesperson who was hit—identified only as 'P2' in the report—sustaining a skull fracture and a brain bleed. They were quickly transported to the hospital by emergency services, and the SDPD's Traffic Division has since taken the lead in the ongoing investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash. This incident brings to light the potential dangers associated with the increased torque and acceleration capabilities of electric vehicles, which, when not handled with due care, can lead to tragic outcomes such as this.
As the authority seeks witnesses, the SDPD has urged anyone with information related to the incident to step forward, offering the option to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 for anyone preferring to remain anonymous. Meanwhile, the dealership involved has not issued any public statements regarding the accident or the current condition of their employee, nor have they commented on any possible changes to their test drive procedures in light of the incident.
