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Alicia Good says her 2013 Audi Q5 was badly damaged after an employee at AE German Car Service took it from the Hollywood-area shop and it struck a barrier. The shop told Fox 11 Los Angeles the matter was being handled by its insurer, while the crash’s cause, the employee’s purpose for driving, and any legal or insurance outcome have not been established.
Alicia Good’s 2013 Audi Q5 was left severely damaged after an employee at AE German Car Service reportedly drove it from the Hollywood-area shop and struck a barrier, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles. Good had brought the SUV in for a fluids check; the reason the employee took it home, what led to the crash, and who will ultimately pay for the damage remain unclear.
Good told Fox 11 that the crash occurred on the night of Sept. 4. The report says the Audi hit a Jersey barrier about nine miles from the garage. The shop contacted her roughly 18 hours after the crash and said the vehicle had struck the barrier while the mechanic had supposedly “taken it home.” The account does not establish why the vehicle was being driven there or whether the trip was connected to the requested service.
The SUV was towed back to the shop. Video included in the reporting showed extensive damage: the front bumper was missing, the hood was bent upward, and the windshield was broken. Good had taken the car in for a basic fluids check, according to the report; neither she nor the garage has publicly explained what caused the collision.
AE German Car Service declined to discuss the incident with Fox 11 beyond saying it was being handled by its insurance company. Good said police told her the question of grand theft auto was debatable because she had entrusted the shop with the keys. That is Good’s account of what police said, not a reported finding that the employee acted lawfully or that no crime occurred.
Who Bears the Cost of the Crash?
The case highlights the practical and legal questions that can follow when a vehicle is damaged while in a repair shop’s possession: who authorized the trip, whether it was genuinely related to service, and how insurance will cover the loss. A customer handing over keys for repairs does not, by itself, establish what the employee was permitted to do with the car.
For owners, the distinction between a service-related test drive and an unrelated personal trip may matter to both a police investigation and a civil claim. The reporting does not establish which kind of trip this was. The shop’s statement that its insurer is handling the matter also does not confirm that coverage has been accepted, how much may be paid, or whether Good has received compensation.
2013 Audi Q5 front bumper replacement
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Repair shops sometimes need to drive a vehicle to assess a reported problem or verify work, but the available reporting does not say that Good authorized this particular trip or that the drive was a necessary test. It says she brought the Audi in for a fluids check and that the shop later described the mechanic as having taken it home. The purpose and circumstances of that drive remain central unanswered points.
The Drive also cited an earlier Tennessee case involving a Mercedes-Benz C300. In that case, a judge rejected a defense characterization of a mechanic’s trip as an “extended test drive” and awarded the owner $20,270, according to The Drive. The report says the mechanic was still tried for criminal theft. That separate case does not determine Good’s rights or the outcome in California; the facts and legal proceedings may differ.
““It’s debatable whether or not it’s actually grand theft (auto) because I had entrusted them with my car.””
— Alicia Good, as quoted by Fox 11 Los Angeles
2013 Audi Q5 windshield replacement
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Crash Circumstances Remain Unconfirmed
The reporting does not explain why the mechanic drove the Audi, whether Good or the shop authorized the trip, or what caused the collision. It also does not provide the employee’s account, police records, details of any investigation, or the insurer’s assessment. The location and timing are reported by Fox 11, but the available material does not establish whether traffic violations, impairment, or other factors played a role.
It is also unclear whether police opened a case, whether prosecutors considered charges, or whether Good has filed a civil claim. The Tennessee decision cited by The Drive is an example from another state, not evidence that the same legal result will follow here.
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Insurance Review and Possible Claims
The next reported step is the insurance review identified by AE German Car Service. The insurer’s findings, coverage decision, and any payment to Good have not been reported. Further information about the employee’s account, the trip’s purpose, or any police action could clarify whether the drive was connected to the repair work.
Until those details are available, responsibility and the legal classification of the incident remain unresolved. Good’s options and any eventual outcome cannot be determined from the current reporting alone.
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Key Questions
What happened to Alicia Good’s Audi?
According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, Good’s 2013 Audi Q5 was badly damaged after an AE German Car Service employee reportedly drove it from the shop and it struck a Jersey barrier. The crash was reported to have happened on Sept. 4.
Why was the mechanic driving the Audi?
The available report does not establish the reason. The shop reportedly said the mechanic had “taken it home,” but it is not clear whether the trip was authorized or connected to the requested service.
Has the shop admitted fault or agreed to pay?
No such agreement is reported. The shop told Fox 11 that the matter was being handled by its insurance company; the insurer’s decision and any compensation remain unknown.
Did police determine that no crime occurred?
Not according to the information provided. Good said police told her the grand-theft question was debatable because she had entrusted the shop with the keys. The report does not describe a formal decision by police or prosecutors.
Does the Tennessee case decide what happens to Good?
No. The Drive cited a separate Tennessee dispute in which a judge awarded a Mercedes owner $20,270 after rejecting the “extended test drive” explanation. That case may offer context, but it does not determine the facts or legal outcome in Good’s California case.
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