Tesla driver dies after slamming into fire truck

Tesla deadly crash
© Jiawangkun | Dreamstime.com

Vehicle manufacturer Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, is facing more scrutiny from regulators as yet another Model S crashed over the weekend. The car’s model is currently the subject of a recall over fears that the Full-Self Driving beta mode can fail.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now initiating an investigation and is asking Tesla for additional details. There have been numerous situations where a Tesla vehicle crashed under suspicious circumstances.

Read on for details on how the crash happened and what is being done to prevent further incidents.

Deadly Tesla crash

Over the weekend, the Contra Costa County fire department explained in a tweet that a Tesla Model S crashed into a fire truck in Walnut Creek, California. The fire truck was blocking a section of the I-680 to shield emergency workers dealing with a separate crash when the incident happened.

In the released photos, the Model S is destroyed, resulting in the death of the driver and severe injuries to a passenger. At the time of writing, it’s unclear if the driver was using the Full-Self Driving (FSD) beta mode.

The recall we mentioned earlier involves 362,758 Teslas equipped with FSD, and the NHTSA warns that, among other things, the system can:

  • Cause cars to travel straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane.
  • Enter a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop.
  • Go through a yellow traffic light into an intersection without proper caution.

According to Reuters, the NHTSA is launching a full-scale investigation into the crash and previous accidents and has requested more data from Tesla.

Is your Tesla part of a recall?

If you own a Tesla and are worried about safety, here is a list of the most recently recalled models:

  • 2016-2023 Model S.
  • 2016-2023 Model X.
  • 2017-2023 Model 3.
  • 2020-2023 Model Y.

You can also contact Tesla customer service at 877-798-3752 with any questions or concerns. Tap or click here to find out if your vehicle is part of a recall no matter the manufacturer.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, of the 605 crashes between July 2021 to October 2022 involving vehicles with autopilot features, 474 were Teslas. 

Another website, TeslaDeaths.com, claims that there have been 356 deaths due to driving the vehicles. The website tracks news reports of Tesla accidents (injuries and fatalities), Tesla vehicles catching fire, spontaneous acceleration and where the incidents happened.

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Tags: California, crash, Elon Musk, investigation, Model S, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, photos, recall, Tesla, travel