A devastating incident occurred in San Diego as a 20-year-old Californian lost his life in a Tesla car crash.
The fatal collision took place around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday when the driver, behind the wheel of a 2021 Tesla Model 3, made an unsafe move, striking the right-side curb and crashing into a light pole near University City High School.
Uncertainty Surrounding Autonomous Technology Engagement
Details regarding the involvement of the car’s driverless technology remain unclear.
San Diego police reported that, upon their arrival at the scene, the Tesla Model 3 was engulfed in flames, and tragically, the driver had already succumbed to the impact before any hospital intervention could take place.
Tesla’s History of Fire Incidents and Investigations
This unfortunate incident adds to Tesla’s history of electric vehicles catching fire, requiring substantial amounts of water to extinguish due to the complexity of the car’s battery.
Notably, a previous investigation raised concerns about the potential involvement of Tesla’s self-driving technology in a fatal crash in Colorado, where a Tesla Model 3 veered off the road, crashing into a tree and resulting in a fiery fatality.
Alarming Statistics on Tesla-Related Crashes
Since 2021, automakers have been mandated to report crashes involving driver-assistance systems, revealing over 900 recorded crashes involving Teslas.
A Washington Post analysis indicates that at least 40 of these crashes resulted in serious or fatal injuries.
Previous incidents, including a Tesla Model S operating on autopilot colliding with a firetruck in Walnut Creek, California, have raised questions about the safety of Tesla’s advanced driving systems.
Challenges in Responding to Tesla Battery Fires
Tesla’s electric batteries have posed challenges for firefighters, requiring large quantities of water to extinguish and cool down a battery fire.
The company advises using approximately 3,000-8,000 gallons of water directly applied to the battery, a stark contrast to the 500 to 1,000 gallons typically required for an average car fire.
The increased complexity of Tesla’s battery systems makes emergency response more intricate.