A bizarre scene unfolded on University Avenue in San Diego, California, after a man was caught on camera allegedly taking an excavator from a construction site and driving it through the city, leaving a trail of damage behind him.
The footage was posted by TikToker @hamhandle and quickly went viral, racking up more than 523,000 views, 67,000 likes, and over 1,100 comments. The unusual clip also gained traction on Reddit.
In the video, a yellow excavator can be seen traveling down University Avenue with its bucket lowered, sending sparks flying as it scrapes against the pavement. The heavy equipment moves across the roadway before heading toward a nearby KFC. The video’s on-screen text identifies the driver as homeless, although authorities have not confirmed that characterization.
Police later arrested 28-year-old Liam Quigley on suspicion of vehicle theft and two counts of vandalism after bringing the excavator to a stop, according to NBC San Diego. Police said the machine knocked down five street signs, a streetlight and planter boxes during the alleged joyride.
The incident also caused significant damage outside the Observatory North Park, where damage to the venue’s sign was estimated at approximately $25,000.
San Diego Excavator Joyride Leaves Viewers Stunned
The unusual footage quickly sparked a wave of reactions across TikTok and Reddit, with many viewers struggling to believe what they were seeing.
On TikTok, one of the most-liked comments simply read, “deeper meaning to this,” suggesting the bizarre incident reflected something larger than an isolated theft. Others speculated about the man’s motives, with one user writing, “He’s going to fix the sewage issue in Imperial Beach.”
Over on Reddit, many users leaned into the absurdity of the situation. One commenter joked, “Clearly an homage to the tank rampage! Good work!” while another imagined the excavator was “Heading towards KFC for some XL buckets of chicken and scoops of mashed potatoes.”
Elsewhere, commenters wondered how Quigley allegedly managed to start and take the excavator, something authorities have not publicly explained.. One person wrote, “Insane oversight leaving the keys in a place where the vehicle could be started when no one is on site. Someone’s definitely getting fired lmfao,” prompting another to reply, “These are easy to steal without the keys, just like an old 89 Chevy S10 lol no keys needed and you just turned the ignition.”
What looked like a bizarre slow-speed joyride on TikTok left a much more expensive trail behind it. Quigley now faces allegations of vehicle theft and vandalism, while the Observatory North Park alone was reportedly left with approximately $25,000 in damage.
