Dramatic Moment Captured: Dodge Charger Soars Through the Air, Collides with Bus, Devastates Local Restaurant

Life is imitating art in increasingly bizarre ways, as demonstrated by a recent incident in Long Beach, California. If this car and bus collision had been depicted in a movie, viewers would have dismissed it as unrealistic. However, a Dodge Charger driver proved that the chances of such an event happening are never zero.

The incident occurred on a Thursday afternoon when the Charger driver was speeding south on South Street towards California Avenue. Ignoring a stop sign at the intersection, the driver’s car encountered a unique road design commonly found in Southern California. With high crowns and low gutters on either side, the Charger was traveling at such a high speed that all four tires left the road as it dipped through the gutter and hit the crown. This resulted in a spectacular mid-air jump reminiscent of the famous scene from the movie “Bullitt,” without the need for San Francisco ramps or Hollywood tricks. However, before the sedan could land, it was struck by a Long Beach public transit bus heading east on California Avenue. The collision sent both vehicles crashing into The Boujie Crab restaurant located on the southeast corner of the intersection.

The unfortunate combination of a flying car, a moving bus, and a crab shack resulted in a disastrous day for everyone involved. Fortunately, the seafood spot was closed at the time of the incident. However, the impact caused injuries to at least 14 people, with 10 of them being taken to local hospitals, six of whom were in serious condition. The bus driver was among the injured, but fortunately, no fatalities were reported. The Charger ended up wedged between the bus and the restaurant structure, requiring emergency crews to extricate the driver and passenger. Six hours later, as the car was being loaded onto a flatbed trailer, it caught fire. The residents living in the apartments above the restaurant were forced to evacuate, although the duration of their displacement remains unclear.

In a video by KTLA 5, a woman named Erica Hunt was identified as the owner of the restaurant. However, it is worth noting that Nickey McKnight is the actual owner of The Boujie Crab, which opened in 2020. McKnight expressed uncertainty about reopening the restaurant at the same location, stating, “I have mixed feelings about this street, although I do want to stay in Long Beach.” She cited concerns about the street being likened to a race track due to excessive speeding, stating, “Some of my customers would say this [street] is like a race track because they go so fast… Literally, you can hear the speed from inside the restaurant.” A local resident also confirmed the prevalence of speeding on South Street, mentioning that instances of people performing donuts and reaching speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour are common occurrences.