Tesla Driver Fled on Foot after Killing Motorcycle Rider in Chula Vista; Facing Charges after Arrest

A 22-year-old man accused of deliberately ramming into and killing a motorcyclist on Interstate 805 in Chula Vista appeared in court for the first time Monday. Ulysses Jimenez faces a first-degree murder charge and several others after prosecutors said he became enraged by the presence of a motorcycle in the carpool lane and sped up to 126 mph before slamming into the victim.

The deadly crash also injured six people in a pickup truck before Jimenez fled the scene barefoot with cash in hand. He now faces life in prison if convicted.

Suspect:

• Ulysses Jimenez, 22 years old
• Charged with:
  • First-degree murder
  • Six counts of assault with a deadly weapon
  • Hit-and-run causing death

Incident Summary:

• Occurred around 8 p.m. in the carpool lane of I-805, north of Telegraph Canyon Road, Chula Vista, CA
• Jimenez allegedly became angry at a motorcycle in the lane and accelerated to 126 mph
• He allegedly intentionally rammed into 53-year-old Jorge Uribe, killing him instantly
• Impact was so severe that Uribe was thrown 500 feet, and the motorcycle’s license plate imprinted on the Tesla bumper

Aftermath of the Crash:

• The Tesla then crashed into a pickup truck carrying six people, including four children, all injured
• Jimenez fled the scene barefoot, holding a handful of cash, and attempted to hitchhike
• Witness video shows him agitated, flipping people off after being ignored
• He was arrested by police at gunpoint but taken into custody without further incident

Prosecutor’s Statement:

• Jimenez told officers: “I was speeding like the devil. I broke every safety rule possible. I hit Mr. Uribe on purpose.”

Court Proceedings:

• Held without bail
• Initially refused to appear in court last week
• Appeared willingly on Monday; next court date in September

Victim Remembered:

• Jorge Uribe, 53, was a father and friend to many
• Mourned by loved ones, including Marcos Salgado, who told Jimenez: “May the Lord have mercy on your soul… I just will place his future in the Lord’s hands.”

Potential Sentence:

• If convicted, Jimenez faces life in prison