Three people escape burning car in City Heights crash

Police say the car rolled backward down a hill, injuring the driver who tried to escape.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A bizarre fiery car crash in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood on Tuesday morning left a woman injured and destroyed a parked car and SUV. According to police, three people jumped out of a flaming Jeep that was rolling backward down a hill, and the driver was run over as she tried to escape the vehicle.

Why it matters

Fiery car crashes and incidents of vehicles losing control are concerning public safety issues, especially in dense urban neighborhoods where parked cars and pedestrians are at risk. This incident highlights the need for proper vehicle maintenance and safety precautions to prevent such dangerous situations.

The details

Witnesses reported seeing fire coming from the Jeep Renegade as it was driving up a hill on Trojan Avenue. The car then began rolling backward, crashing into a parked black Lexus. The three occupants were able to jump out of the Jeep as it rolled, but the driver was run over when she tried to escape the vehicle. Despite the dramatic nature of the incident, the driver's injuries were not considered serious.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, March 4, 2026.

The players

Natalia Montejano

A witness who heard the crash and came out of her home to see the aftermath.

Shauna Watson

A witness who saw the Jeep rolling backward and yelled at the driver to stop.

Gary Martin

The owner of the parked black Lexus that was struck by the rolling Jeep.

Gnyja Martin

Gary Martin's daughter, who said the street has seen more than two dozen parked car crashes.

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What they’re saying

“I just heard this big crash.”

— Natalia Montejano, Witness (nbcsandiego.com)

“Everybody was yelling at the person to stop.”

— Shauna Watson, Witness (nbcsandiego.com)

“The whole street is cursed and this is not their first parked car crash.”

— Gnyja Martin, Resident (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

Traffic investigators will continue to examine the cause of the brake failure that led to the Jeep rolling backward down the hill.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of proper vehicle maintenance and safety precautions to prevent dangerous situations on the road, especially in dense urban areas where parked cars and pedestrians are at risk.