Number 6 Tesla Roadster crashed, witnesses say it's too quiet

Tesla has delivered about 10 or so models of its $100,000 roadster so far. Well, #6 of the 10 was crashed shortly after it was delivered to an unnamed private owner. Many thought the driver of the crashed black green beauty was Darryl Siry, Tesla’s Vice President of Marketing. Siry later told Wired.com that #6 had been delivered to the customer shortly before the accident.

“It was a Tesla customer who got into that accident. We’re aware of it because we service our vehicles,” he said.

That’s nice. But what’s more interesting is that witnesses say that that the cause of the accident was due to the fact that the Tesla roadster had gone “unnoticed” because of its silent powertrain. Not to mention the airbags didn’t deploy either.

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Carboy - 7/29/2008 10:54:42 AM

+2 Boost

It did withstand the impact well.

Hantra - 7/29/2008 10:56:33 AM

-2 Boost

This headline should read:

"Number 6 Tesla Roadster crashed, witnesses all full of sh#%."

It crashed b/c the IDIOT in the C class (an idiot even before the crash b/c they own that C class) can't drive.

bigmotov - 7/29/2008 11:45:34 AM

+4 Boost

Exactly. How many people drive with their EARS ONLY?!?!

Hantra - 7/29/2008 12:54:20 PM

+2 Boost

The same crash could have happened with an S class. Can you hear that unless it's raging at 4K RPM's?

Just lame.

sector - 7/29/2008 2:15:44 PM

+3 Boost

yeah but usually the car behind is at fault. It's unfair especially if the front car does a unexpected stop, but that's the way it is.

C63AMG - 7/29/2008 11:13:58 PM

+1 Boost

You are the idiot. The tesla has ran up the back of the C-Class.

If you were not so jealous that BMtroubleyou is now building pieces of $#!+ and Mercedes-Benz is now building better cars then you ever had you would have realized that.

So suck on that!

Hantra - 7/30/2008 12:59:55 PM

+1 Boost

LOL. Sounds like a nerve was struck.

First off, the witnesses said it got hit b/c it was so quiet. How would they even say ANYTHING like that if the Tesla CAUSED the accident?

Secondly, anyone who would buy a C class in that year model over an E46 3 series, is an idiot. It's a fact. Deal with it.

Bmw8ter - 7/29/2008 11:26:26 AM

-2 Boost

It looks like the C class merged over infront of the Tesla, but then again, to get the car under there like that, I'd think the tesla driver would have had to be gunning it.

pnsb24a - 8/6/2008 4:58:42 PM

0 Boost

It looks like the merc was at fault. Notice the front drivers side was hit as if the merc was mering over and therefore the mercs fault.

Audiphile - 7/29/2008 11:31:07 AM

+7 Boost

I don't get it. Judging from the photos, it looks like the Tesla driver rear-ended the Mercedes, probably due to tailgating. Silence on the part of the Tesla would not have been an issue there.

Or conceivably the Mercedes driver did not see the Tesla, and pulled out of a side street in front of the Tesla. In this situation, the Mercedes driver was supposed to LOOK before pulling out. What difference would the noise (or lack thereof) of the Tesla made?

There is no excuse for the airbag not to deploy. However, this could be a low-energy collision, even though the Tesla submarined under the Mercedes, thus the impact was not severe enough to set off an airbag.

SHOWTIME - 7/29/2008 11:36:34 AM

+4 Boost

agree agree agree

golfer38 - 7/29/2008 12:18:54 PM

+3 Boost

There are certain impact angle requirements for airbag deployment. One of the basic guidelines is that the bumper must be compressed in order to contact the sensors. In this case it looked like the Merc. rolled over the bumper rather than compressing it. And even if there was some compression, it was probably at a downward angle so there may not have been a connection with the sensors. Accident angle is everything.

golfer38 - 7/29/2008 11:35:34 AM

+5 Boost

Yeah, when I'm changing lanes, the only thing I worry about is the sound of another car coming from behind. I never look at my mirrors and actually make sure that its safe to go.

holmstar - 7/29/2008 12:42:04 PM

+1 Boost

I say that the tesla owner was having fun with his new toy on public roads and paid the price. Yeah it's possible that the merc driver darted in front of the tesla, but I'd wager that the tesla was moving pretty good. Clearly he was moving much faster than the merc on what appears to be an urban street.

answer - 7/29/2008 1:31:31 PM

+1 Boost

Fun while it lasted.

sector - 7/29/2008 2:17:10 PM

-3 Boost

I agree though, hybrids/electric cars are too quiet.

Bored - 7/29/2008 2:55:21 PM

-1 Boost

C-class driver's fault. Notice there aren't any skid marks from the tires of the Tesla. This MB driver didn't use his mirror before changing lanes. Probably on the phone.
And why they hell is he still in his car?

outdoorsman - 7/29/2008 3:13:11 PM

+4 Boost

“Unnoticed” because of the power train. That’s one of the most dumb ass comments I have ever heard. Too many people are just too stupid!

Threepoint1415926 - 7/29/2008 6:39:36 PM

+3 Boost

I have no idea how everyone is arriving at "blame the Mercedes driver" Clearly the Tesla rear ended the Merc at speed, end of story. Tesla's driver has responsibility to give right of way to those in front of him and use caution. The only conceivable way that Merc would be at fault is if he darted across traffic which typically results in roll over and and sideways crashes hence why rear end collisions remain the fault of the rear driver.

pnsb24a - 8/6/2008 5:00:46 PM

+1 Boost

NO such thing is obvious, butthead

MBKing - 7/29/2008 7:28:11 PM

0 Boost

Why you guys bagging on the w202 c-class, I have a 99 C43 in the garage that says the w202 is not at fault...stupid tesla driver

Bored - 7/30/2008 2:39:08 AM

+1 Boost

@ MBKing,

I'm not bagging on the C-class. I'm bagging on the driver of the C-class.