Fatal Tesla Crash in Florida Spurs Federal Investigation
We’ve recently reported several Tesla crashes in California and in other parts of the country that are under federal investigation. Now, you could add one more to that list. This one involves a tragic car accident, which left two teenagers dead and sent a third to the hospital. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are gathering information on this crash in Fort Lauderdale. NTSB officials have said it expects the primary focus of its investigation to be the electric vehicle’s battery and not Autopilot, the semi-autonomous feature that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel for extended periods of time.
Tragic Fiery Crash
The Fort Lauderdale crash occurred the night of May 8. All three occupants in the Tesla were 18-year-old males. Police officials looking into the incident said speed was a factor in the collision. According to reports, the driver Barrett Riley and front-seat passenger Edgar Monserratt Martinez, both 18, were trapped in the burning vehicle and died. Another passenger, also 18, was transported to an area hospital.
The teens were traveling in a Tesla Model S sedan along Seabreeze Boulevard before it slammed into a concrete wall. Police have not yet determined how fast the car was going, where the fire began or what caused it. The Tesla involved in this collision does not use a gas-powered engine. It is entirely powered by a battery. The NTSB sent a team to Florida a day after the crash to focus on the battery fire, which caused the fatalities.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the young men who were lost in this horrific incident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Finding Answers
While officials say Autopilot is not the focus of the investigation here, there still seem to be a number of unanswered questions here. Were the teens speeding? What caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle? What caused the battery to catch fire? Why were the teens unable to get out of the vehicle in time? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
In cases where vehicle defects and potential design flaws may be involved, it is critical that the vehicles are preserved in current condition, unaltered, so an expert can thoroughly examine them for any evidence. It is also important that victims of families of deceased victims contact a renowned auto defect law firm that will stay on top of the official investigations and help protect their legal rights and best interests every step of the way. A law firm with resources will also be able to conduct an independent investigation with the help of nationally renowned experts to help find answers and establish the facts.
Sources: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/10/nhtsa-joins-ntsb-in-looking-into-fatal-tesla-crash-in-florida.html