Driver plows into vehicles in Pacific Beach

Police suspect man had been drinking

By Joe Hughes
STAFF WRITER

June 16, 2004

Unemployed for months and nearly broke, Getulio Soares was preparing to return to his native Brazil until he scraped up enough cash for a used car to deliver pizzas.

Those hopes were dashed early yesterday when a suspected drunken driver behind the wheel of a GMC Yukon smashed into the struggling musician's Ford Aspire during a demolition drive in Pacific Beach that left at least 15 vehicles – along with a fire hydrant, a flower shop and a street sign – damaged or destroyed.

Upon hearing the sound of smashing metal coming from outside his tiny Bayard Street studio at about 2 a.m., Soares ran outside to find total devastation.

"There was no car left," he said. "It was smashed to pieces."

The SUV continued careening down the street, crushing everything in its path and leaving a bright trail of sparks as it plowed along.

Some said it looked and sounded like war. Dozens of residents ran into the street to witness the carnage, some angrily chasing the errant driver.

Water sprayed into the night sky from a broken hydrant, adding to the surreal scene.

Lori McRoberts, 34, said that when she looked out her window, she saw cars being tossed about like toys. One landed just outside her bedroom.

"It missed me by two feet," McRoberts said.

The driver of the Yukon abandoned the vehicle – which had lost its right front tire – near La Jolla Boulevard and Tourmaline Street.

Neighbors who had been running after him called 911 and led police to his capture near Mission Boulevard. He was arrested about 2:10 a.m., 12 minutes after police received the first of many 911 calls about the incident.

Police identified the driver as Matt Lyman, 24, of Houston. He was booked on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and hit-and-run.

Residents said the driver appeared to deliberately strike the cars and seemed angry over something.

"After he struck one car, he got out and started yelling, then he got back in and started driving insane," said Pacific Beach resident Bill Hobbs.

The extent of damage was still being tallied and should be substantial, authorities said.

For Soares, the damage was beyond profound. He was supposed to start his new job delivering pizzas last night.

"No car, no job, no money," he said.

Nearby residents, however, were already taking up a collection so he could get another car.

Originally posted by O. L. T.
That is beyond 56k death. My cable modem just wrote me a note

"try me next week"