At a Glance
- A Tesla crash into Sala Coffee and Wine highlighted a trend: traffic deaths now exceed homicides in Long Beach.
- Between July 2024 and July 2025, 215 pedestrian-related crashes were recorded, including 13 deaths in crosswalks.
- City officials plan speed cameras, but citations will not begin until late 2026.
- Why it matters: The city’s traffic crisis is growing, forcing businesses and residents to demand immediate safety measures.
The night a Tesla veered off Atlantic Avenue and slammed into the front of Sala Coffee and Wine in Bixby Knolls, the incident drew attention to a silent killer on Long Beach streets. While no one was hurt, the storefront was damaged and the locally owned shop had to close temporarily. The crash sparked a conversation about a city-wide problem: traffic violence now claims more lives than homicide.
The Crash That Sparked the Conversation
Surveillance footage captured the moment the Tesla left the road and crashed straight into the coffee shop’s front. The impact left the building damaged but fortunately spared the owners and patrons.
> “It turned our world upside down in a matter of minutes,” said co-owner Derrick Montiel. “A car ran straight into the building.”
Montiel and co-owner Brandee Raygosa described the incident as a major setback for a business that had just been gaining momentum. Friends launched a GoFundMe to cover repair costs and lost income, while other city coffee shops and customers rallied to support them.
Community Reaction
- GoFundMe launched by friends and neighbors.
- Local coffee shops and customers offered support.
- Residents expressed that the crash was not a surprise.
Raygosa noted that the crash was the third time a vehicle had struck their storefront. Residents point to Atlantic Avenue’s history of speeding drivers and frequent collisions.
> “It needs to be looked at by the city council and the police department,” said neighbor Rashid Osheltree.
Long Beach’s Traffic Crisis
New city data paints a grim picture. Long Beach ranks as California’s eighth-deadliest city for traffic crashes.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Pedestrian-related crashes (July 2024-July 2025) | 215 |
| Pedestrian deaths in crosswalks | 13 |
| Total pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders killed in 2025 | 32 |
| Homicides in same period | 29 |
City officials say they’ve taken steps to improve safety, including adding bike lanes and crosswalks and planning to install speed cameras. However, citations from those cameras are not expected to begin until late 2026, a timeline that frustrates residents who say lives are being lost now.
A decade ago, Long Beach set a goal to eliminate traffic deaths by 2026. Instead, last year marked the highest number of traffic-related fatalities in the city in ten years.
City Measures and Resident Frustrations
City officials have announced:
- New bike lanes on Atlantic Avenue.
- Additional crosswalks at key intersections.
- Speed cameras to be installed, with citations expected in late 2026.
Residents argue that the delay in enforcing speed cameras allows dangerous driving to continue unchecked.
> “We shouldn’t have to wait for these tragedies to keep happening,” Raygosa said.
Business owners like Montiel and Raygosa, and neighbors who walk Atlantic Avenue every day, demand faster action.
Key Takeaways
- Traffic deaths now outpace homicides in Long Beach, a trend highlighted by the Tesla crash into Sala Coffee and Wine.
- 215 pedestrian-related crashes and 32 fatalities in 2025 demonstrate a growing safety crisis.
- Speed cameras will not be enforced until late 2026, leaving a gap in immediate enforcement.
- Community support for affected businesses shows solidarity, but residents call for urgent city action.
- The city’s 2026 goal to eliminate traffic deaths has been missed, underscoring the need for faster, more effective measures.
The incident at Sala Coffee and Wine is a stark reminder that traffic violence is a real, present danger. As Long Beach continues to grapple with this crisis, the call for immediate safety interventions grows louder.
