TEMECULA, CA. (THECOUNT) — Preston El Guindy, 6, has died after he was accidentally struck by a Tesla Cybertruck driven by his father, Terrick El Guindy, 48, while the vehicle was backing out of the family’s driveway near Temecula in Riverside County, California, Saturday night.
El Guindy is known in the professional bodybuilding community as a judge for Mr. Olympia, one of the sport’s most prominent annual competitions. He has also appeared as a commentator and analyst on bodybuilding-related programs, including Olympia TV and the Prime Time Muscle podcast.
Advertisement
The fatal incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. September 19 on Brookhaven Court, near Highway 79, according to the California Highway Patrol. The boy was playing outside his home when his father reportedly reversed the Cybertruck from the driveway and struck him.
Preston suffered severe injuries in the collision. His father immediately called 911, and Riverside County Fire Department paramedics responded to the residence. The child was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where he was pronounced dead later that night, according to reports citing authorities.
California Highway Patrol Officer Jesus Garcia said the Tesla was not operating in Autopilot mode at the time of the incident.
“At the time of the incident, the Tesla was not operating in autopilot mode,” Garcia said in a statement.
The CHP has not indicated that El Guindy was operating the vehicle while impaired. Authorities questioned the father following the incident, but he was not arrested, according to reporting on the investigation. The circumstances surrounding the collision remained under review.
It was not immediately clear whether any dashboard warning or alert was activated before the Cybertruck struck the child. Investigators were examining the circumstances of the crash, including the vehicle’s movement and the events leading up to the collision.
Garcia expressed condolences to the family and others affected by the child’s death.
“The CHP extends its condolences to the family and all those affected by this tragic loss,” Garcia said.
Mr. Olympia is associated with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness and has been held annually since 1965. Judges evaluate competitors across different bodybuilding categories during the event.
El Guindy also maintains a presence on social media, where he discusses bodybuilding and related topics. He had not publicly commented on his son’s death in the initial reporting.
A GoFundMe campaign was established by family friend Stefanie Chesbro to assist the family following the tragedy. The campaign described Preston as a child who brought happiness to those around him and said he was loved by his family and community.
“On Saturday night, our sweet Preston was playing outside in his neighborhood and was accidentally struck by a moving vehicle,” the campaign stated. “His injuries were too great, and Preston tragically passed away at the hospital with Mom by his side.”
The campaign said Preston’s parents and his sister, Scarlett, were left grieving his death. Organizers also said community members had reached out to offer assistance. The fundraiser’s stated goal was $50,000, with more than $27,000 reportedly raised at the time of the supplied reporting.
The California Highway Patrol continued investigating the fatal collision. No criminal charges against El Guindy were reported in the available accounts.
The incident occurred in the Temecula area of Riverside County, east of the greater Los Angeles region. Brookhaven Court is located near Highway 79 in the community east of Temecula, where the family’s residence and driveway were located.
Google Maps: Approximate location of the fatal Cybertruck collision near Temecula, California
DEVELOPING::