A 28-Year-Old Man Stole a Backhoe and Dragged Its Scoop Down a San Diego Street at 5 AM, Throwing Sparks the Whole Way

A predawn joyride through San Diego on a stolen backhoe left a trail of sparks and thousands of dollars in wrecked signs and street fixtures, according to police.

The joyride destroyed a local landmark sign, five street signs, and a streetlight, running up an estimated $25,000 in damage.

Liam Quigley, 28, allegedly took the backhoe from a construction site near University Avenue and Utah Street early on July 26, according to a San Diego Police Department arrest report. He was booked on a vehicle theft charge and two counts of vandalism.

Witness Guy Guadagni said the driver knocked down traffic-sign poles and planter boxes as he worked his way down the street around 5 am. Video posted to Reddit by SpazyK shows the metal scoop grinding along the asphalt and throwing up a long trail of sparks.

Video credit: @SpazyK via Storyful

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