Pedestrian safety in Pacific Beach is in the spotlight after another possible hit-and-run death

Family says 41-year-old Qwente Bryant was killed on Garnet Avenue, three weeks after a hit-and-run driver killed a 6-year-old boy.

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, friends say a photograph of Bryant, better known as Q, surrounded by a group of kids in Southeast Asia, would tell you he’s traveled to more than two dozen countries and was a man of the people.

“He is very electric,” said Q’s friend and former roommate, Mohab Hassanin. “His sense of humor is immaculate. The way that he grabs people because of his generosity — he’s welcoming.”

That welcoming personality was extinguished around 2 a.m. Saturday morning, according to friends and family. They say Q was leaving his job as a manager at Tavern at the Beach.

San Diego police received multiple calls of a man lying in the street near Sandbox  Pizza, on Garnet, and that he was possibly the victim of a hit-and-run driver. Bryant was just over a quarter-mile from his home when he was killed.

Bryant’s death comes three weeks after 6-year-old Hudson O’loughlin was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Pacific Beach Drive. The two deadly incidents occurred about a half-mile apart.

Investigators are searching for a white SUV, possibly a Mercedes, with front-end damage, in connection with Bryant’s death.

“I mean, enough is enough,” Hassanin said.

In the wake of the two deaths, friends and Pacific Beach residents are calling on city leaders to make even more traffic safety changes, despite crossing lights at some nearby intersections.

“More police enforcement — people aren’t going to learn unless they start getting tickets and fines for their negligent driving,” said Pacific Beach resident Ryan Torres.

The most current data from T.I.M.S., the Transportation Injury Mapping System, doesn’t show the two most recent, deadly crashes, but it does show that, between 2021 and late last year, there were 79 car versus pedestrian and bicycle crashes within a half-mile of where Bryant was found. While none were fatal, 14 people suffered severe injuries.

Through a family member, Q’s mother sent NBC 7 the following statement:

“What happened to my son is a tragedy. The person who took him from us acted with complete disregard for human life. I remain hopeful that [those] responsible will be brought to justice to the full extent of the law. “

“Things have to change, things need to change, and San Diego leaders needs to take action,” Hassanin said.

While friends and family await justice, they’ve established an online fundraiser. And outside Tavern on the Beach, there’s a memorial and signs saying that the bar is temporarily closed so his friends and co-workers can deal with their grief.