CARLSBAD — Law enforcement is investigating an incident earlier this month that left a woman hospitalized with serious injuries after she was thrown from a lifeguard tower at a Carlsbad beach.
Zoe Saavedra, 23, was with two friends after spending the evening of July 3 in Carlsbad Village, according to several social media posts.
At approximately 9:57 p.m., Saavedra said the group was sitting on lifeguard Tower 4 at Carlsbad Village Drive and Ocean Street when they were approached by a seemingly intoxicated man yelling at kids riding e-bikes on the sand.
The man then reportedly turned his attention to Saavedra and her friends, verbally berating the women before moving toward them.
Saavedra said she “tried to get him to back off,” but the man grabbed her by her jacket and threw her off the tower, collapsing her right lung and bruising her ribs.
“I hit my head in the sand and remember laying on my back, not being able to breathe,” Saavedra told ABC10.
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Saavedra did not respond to requests for an interview. She is expected to make a full recovery.
The suspect fled the scene and has not yet been publicly identified. The victim’s friends were able to capture photos of the man, which they posted to social media in hopes that someone would recognize him.
The suspect has been described as a White male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, medium build, with long dark brown curly hair and facial hair.
Law enforcement is investigating the incident as a battery with serious bodily injury, according to Carlsbad police Public Information Officer Denise Ramirez.
“A Crimes of Violence Unit Detective has been assigned to the case and is conducting all necessary follow-up with the victim and witnesses to gather pertinent information and evidence,” Ramirez said.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Carlsbad Police at 760-931-2197.
