A Florida man was arrested after crashing his Dodge Challenger through multiple businesses in a Pensacola strip mall, claiming he was attempting to “time travel,” according to local police reports.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 20, 2015, at approximately 10:50 AM, when the driver deliberately accelerated his vehicle through the front wall of a Advance Tax Services office located at 3818 North Davis Highway.
The car continued through the building and emerged through the rear wall, ultimately coming to rest inside the adjacent State Farm Insurance office.
According to Pensacola Police Department spokesperson Mike Wood, the driver, whose name was withheld due to suspected mental health concerns, informed responding officers that he had been attempting to “travel through time.”
The man reportedly believed that by driving his car at high speed through the building, he would be able to enter a temporal portal and transport himself and his vehicle through time.
“The only thing that traveled was his car through the building,” Wood stated during the initial press briefing. “He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and is facing multiple charges.”
Fortunately, both businesses were closed at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported. However, the structural damage to both establishments was extensive. Ellison Bennett, the property manager for the strip mall, estimated the total damage to be in excess of $100,000.
“I arrived at the scene and couldn’t believe my eyes,” Bennett said. “The car had gone completely through one building and into another. It looked like something out of a movie, except this was very real and very costly.”
General Manager of Advanced Tax Services, Emanuel Mores, described the scene when he arrived:
“There was just this huge hole in our building, with debris everywhere. Client files were scattered all over the place. Thank goodness this happened on a Sunday when we were closed, or it could have been catastrophic.”
The incident drew significant attention from local residents, with many gathering to observe the unusual scene. Witness Sarah Martinez, who was shopping at a nearby store when the crash occurred, described hearing “an enormous crash” followed by what sounded like “a building collapsing.”
“At first, we thought it was an earthquake or an explosion,” Martinez recalled. “When we came outside and saw the car had gone through two buildings, everyone was just shocked. Nobody could believe what they were seeing.”
Local building inspector Thomas Reynolds conducted an immediate assessment of the structural integrity of both affected businesses. “The damage is significant but containable,” Reynolds reported. “Both structures will require extensive renovation before they can safely reopen for business.”
The driver was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries sustained during the crash. Police officials later confirmed that no alcohol or illegal substances were involved in the incident, leading investigators to focus on potential mental health factors.
The case prompted local authorities to address the importance of mental health awareness and intervention. “This incident, while fortunate to not have resulted in any casualties, highlights the critical need for mental health resources in our community,” stated Dr. Maria Henderson, a local mental health advocate.
Editor’s Note: This story has been verified through multiple sources, including the Pensacola Police Department, local news reports from the Pensacola News Journal, and eyewitness accounts. The incident occurred in December 2015 and gained national attention due to its unusual nature.