On the afternoon of July 16, 2003, George Weller, then age 86, drove his 1992 Buick LeSabre westbound down Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica, California, toward the city's popular Third Street Promenade. The last few blocks of the street, before it ends at the bluffs overlooking Pacific Coast Highway, had been closed to vehicle traffic for the biweekly farmers' market.
Weller's car struck a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430 sedan that had stopped to allow pedestrians through a crosswalk, then accelerated around a road closure sign, crashed through wooden sawhorses, and plowed through the busy marketplace crowd, traveling nearly at speeds between . The entire sequence of collisions took at least ten seconds.
By the time the car came to a halt, Weller had killed ten people and injured 70. Weller told investigators he had accidentally placed his foot on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, then tried to brake but could not stop.
In November 2006, Weller was convicted of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Judge Michael Johnson of Los Angeles Superior Court noted Weller's "enormous indifference" and "unbelievable callousness", further stating that Weller had "never once expressed in court any remorse for his actions." Weller's attorney Mark Borenstein stated that Weller had apologized repeatedly and was sincerely remorseful.
Johnson stated during sentencing that Weller "deserves to go to prison" but ultimately sentenced him to probation, citing his advanced age and poor health. In the sentencing statement, Johnson further stated:
On May 22, 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported that the City of Santa Monica had thus far paid out $21 million to settle dozens of civil lawsuits stemming from the case. The same article also noted that Weller, age 91, was now confined to his home and receiving 24-hour nursing care.