{"id":171619,"date":"2026-02-10T08:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T08:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/171619\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T08:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T08:24:09","slug":"pacific-beach-mourns-beloved-restaurant-worker-killed-in-possible-hit-and-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/171619\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacific Beach mourns beloved restaurant worker killed in possible hit-and-run"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) \u2014 The Pacific Beach community is grieving the loss of Qwente Bryant, a 41-year-old assistant general manager at Tavern at the Beach who was struck and killed by a car while walking home from work early Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

Bryant, known as “Q” to friends and colleagues, was walking home around 2 a.m. after his Friday night shift when the tragedy occurred on Garnet Avenue just east of Gresham Street, according to San Diego police.<\/p>\n

“In the community, Tavern is a pillar, and Q is definitely a column in that. So, it’s been really tough,” said Krista Barrella, general manager of Tavern at the Beach.<\/p>\n

\"qwente<\/p>\n

ABC 10News\/Chelsi Osborn<\/p>\n

Police received multiple reports of a man lying in the road and say Bryant was the victim of a crash, possibly a hit-and-run. He was rushed to the hospital where he died from his injuries.<\/p>\n

Investigators believe the suspect may have been driving a white SUV that should have damage near the front passenger headlight. It remains unclear if the driver was under the influence.<\/p>\n

Bryant had worked at the popular Pacific Beach restaurant for just under four years, about the same time he had lived in San Diego. <\/p>\n

Barrella said he made an impact far beyond the local community.<\/p>\n

“Saw his mom today, she said she’s had people reaching out from all different countries, you know, Q made a friend anywhere he went,” Barrella said.<\/p>\n

Before that, Barrella said Bryant worked in the restaurant industry in Long Beach for many years.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe spent a really long time there, and he made a huge impact in that community as well, to the point where they were still asking him to come do guest bartending shifts four years later.\u201d<\/p>\n

His friend and former co-worker, Chelsi Osborn, told ABC 10News that Bryant “was one of the godfathers to my son.”<\/p>\n

Tavern at the Beach closed through the rest of the weekend and into Monday to mourn Bryant’s loss, with a memorial growing on the front steps of the restaurant. <\/p>\n

\"memorial<\/p>\n

ABC 10News<\/p>\n

Barrella said walking home from work was common for Bryant and many other employees in the area.<\/p>\n

“This was routine. I mean, it’s routine for all of us. I’ve walked home from Tavern for 15 years,” she said.<\/p>\n

This marks the second deadly collision in Pacific Beach since the start of the year. Less than a month ago and only a mile away, 6-year-old Hudson O’Loughlin<\/a> was hit and killed while riding his bike.<\/p>\n

“On the heels of that, just unbelievable, and uh, for it to be someone so amazing, um, and so close to the heart for me personally and for a lot of people in the community, it’s just, it’s an unimaginable situation,” Barrella said.<\/p>\n

The Tavern will resume operationson Tuesday. Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 619-531-2000 or Crime Stoppers. A GoFundMe<\/a> has been set up to support Bryant’s family.<\/p>\n

Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n