PB storm damage: tree, Tesla, and a lucky escape

Pacific Beach Pine Takes Out a Tesla — and the Driver Walked Away

When San Diego storms roll in, locals know the drill — move the patio furniture, avoid low-lying streets, and maybe keep an eye on those big old trees overhead. One Pacific Beach driver learned that last lesson the hard way on Monday when a massive pine tree came crashing down near Oliver Avenue and Dawes Street, landing squarely on his red Tesla.

The tree, visibly uprooted from rain-saturated soil along the sidewalk, didn't just clip the car — it punched a hole straight through the roof, leaving it buried under a cascade of pine needles and broken branches. Part of the tree also struck a nearby home, adding a second property to the storm's damage toll.

Here's the kicker: the driver actually managed to pull his Tesla out from under the tree. The car was clearly wrecked, but miraculously nobody was hurt.

The incident came during a powerful Pacific storm that hammered San Diego County with heavy rain, high surf, and wind advisories. Flooding also swamped Mission Beach along Mission Boulevard, trapping some residents for hours in knee-high water. A 30-foot pine tree in North PB fell on another vehicle and crushed a brick wall in front of a home on the same day, with the homeowner noting he had previously contacted city officials to request its removal.

The storm is expected to push through with continued heavy rain into Thursday, and San Diego Fire-Rescue and city crews have been working overtime clearing debris.

For those of us who live here, it's a reminder that while our winters are mild by most standards, Mother Nature still gets her say — and sometimes she sends her regards through a pine tree.

Sources: FOX 5 San Diego | 10News ABC