Published: September 13, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(La Jolla, CA) – A 26-year-old man suffered serious injuries Friday night when he lost control of a speeding car while pulling into a condominium driveway in La Jolla, according to the San Diego Police Department.
San Diego police officers and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were dispatched at roughly 8:30 p.m. Friday to the 8700 block of Villa La Jolla Drive, police said. Investigators reported that the driver lost control of a 2025 Tesla Model 3 as he was entering a condo complex driveway.
"The Tesla entered a private driveway for the Woodlands North Condominium complex at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle," Officer David O'Brien said. "The vehicle slid to the side and collided with a curb and a tree further down the driveway."
The driver was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, according to police. O'Brien said the man sustained fractures to two ribs, his lower vertebrae and his pelvis, along with pulmonary contusions and a concussion. According to O'Brien, DUI was identified as a factor in the collision, and the SDPD Traffic Division was handling the investigation.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the La Jolla Single-Vehicle Collision
When a single vehicle leaves the roadway and strikes fixed objects, investigators typically work to reconstruct speed, vehicle control, and any impairment. California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, prohibits driving faster than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions, and a report of a vehicle entering a driveway at high speed is the kind of circumstance investigators often examine under that framework. Data from the vehicle, physical evidence at the scene, and any results from an impairment investigation may all bear on how the event is ultimately characterized.
Under Civil Code section 1714(a), every person is responsible for injury caused to another by a want of ordinary care. Where a driver is alleged to have been impaired, Evidence Code section 669 can allow a presumption of negligence if a safety statute was violated, the violation proximately caused injury of the kind the statute was meant to prevent, and the injured person was within the protected class. These principles apply only if the supporting evidence is established; they are not conclusions about this crash.
In a single-vehicle event, questions of comparative fault under Civil Code section 1431.2 can still arise where more than one factor contributed, such as roadway design or vehicle condition. If a viable claim exists, the measure of damages under Civil Code section 3333 would cover the detriment proximately caused by the conduct, and any injury lawsuit would generally be subject to the two-year deadline set by Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
What Injured Drivers and Families Can Do
Anyone injured in a serious collision should obtain the official police report, seek prompt and complete medical evaluation, and preserve evidence such as vehicle data, photographs, and witness contacts before it disappears. California also imposes reporting duties, including a written report to law enforcement within 24 hours under Vehicle Code section 20008 and a DMV SR-1 filing within 10 days under Vehicle Code section 16000 when a crash involves injury or significant property damage. Because deadlines run quickly and insurance and vehicle-data questions can be complex, it can help to speak with an attorney early. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California car accident lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. NBC San Diego – Suspected DUI driver seriously injured in La Jolla single-vehicle crash
