Driver Dies In Fiery Crash After Model S Locks Him In

A Tesla driver in Florida died in his burning car after he crashed into a tree. Witnesses said that they couldn’t enter the vehicle to help the driver because the door handles wouldn’t work and the airbags didn’t deflate.

According to the Miami Herald, the accident happened yesterday afternoon and the unnamed driver was declared dead at the scene:

“Davie police spokeswoman Vivian Gallinal says the car hit some palm trees and burst into flames Sunday afternoon crash. An officer was nearby and tried to break the car’s window, but couldn’t get the driver out.”


 

WATCH: A @Tesla crashes into a tree and bursts into flames in Davie on Flamingo Rd. Unfortunately the driver died on scene according to Davie Fire Rescue. We have @SanelaWPLG on scene working the story. (?? via Daniel Dobb) pic.twitter.com/uJCKjWOPJx

— Marcine Joseph (@MJ_Reports) February 24, 2019

Moo1 - 2/25/2019 3:03:21 PM

+5 Boost

Terrible news

countguy - 2/25/2019 3:04:28 PM

+6 Boost

WOW

DinduNuffin - 2/28/2019 4:33:21 PM

+1 Boost

Considering FAR less people die in an EV than ICE it makes alot of sense.

AutoAficionado - 2/25/2019 3:58:59 PM

+4 Boost

A good friend of mine knew this person. When I first read the story I had no idea. The driver of this car lost his son a year earlier. I'm a fan of Tesla's, but in all honesty I wasn't happy with their response to the incident and after reading the story I can understand the frustration of the first responders. Sometimes the doorhandles can be slow to respond, I never thought they could possibly be a danger in a situation like this.

DinduNuffin - 2/28/2019 4:34:25 PM

+1 Boost

Why would they be a danger? Literally EVERY ICE vehicle autolocks when put into drive now, how is that any different??!

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 2/25/2019 4:09:17 PM

0 Boost

While people can carry a Life Hammer https://www.lifehammerproducts.com/en/ if they frequent travel over / near water there may be other reasons now to have these life savings tools in your car to protect your family and yourself. Rest in Peace...

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:33:10 AM

-5 Boost

As far as I know, most modern cars don't automatically unlock when you get into an accident. Any car would have had this same issue. Within 2 years you'll start seeing some cars with no exterior door handles. The problem was the driver was knocked out. The Model S has a combo electrical and mechanical release for the door handles, so it could have been opened from the inside.

scenicbyway12 - 2/26/2019 12:47:20 PM

+5 Boost

"As far as I know, most modern cars don't automatically unlock when you get into an accident"

All BMW do, this is why Tesla is a "Premium Priced" car and not a premium car.

skytop - 2/25/2019 6:17:24 PM

+10 Boost

Tesla are proving to be DEADLY vehicles.

MDarringer - 2/25/2019 8:15:29 PM

+8 Boost

When you do ZERO time in the prototype stage...

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:34:34 AM

-7 Boost

Look at the tree, think most people would have died instantly in any car hitting an object like that.

mre30 - 2/25/2019 9:03:10 PM

+8 Boost

Its shocking these are still on sale with these safety issues.

Prediction - the "pop-out" door handles (Tesla, various Range Rover products - Velar, etc) are going to be like those FCA/Jeep Cherokee transmission shifters from 2013-2015 that are confusing and end up leaving the car in neutral to roll over and kill people.

wilfred - 2/25/2019 11:12:02 PM

+9 Boost

Not just Tesla, all manufacturers should be required to have manual/mechanical door latches on both sides of vehicle in case of emergencies (fire/water/major accident).

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:38:13 AM

-4 Boost

The Model S has a combo electric/mechanical door handles on all 4 interior door. They'll open even if there is no power.

The Model X has the combo handle for the front. The falcon doors have a mechanical release in the speaker compartment (you need to pop out the speaker cover to see it).

The Model 3 has 2 different door openers for the front: a button (electronic) and a mechanical release. For the back passengers, they are screwed since there is only an electronic button. They would have to crawl to the front in case of an accident where the battery is completely disabled.

mre30 - 2/26/2019 8:34:44 AM

+7 Boost

If all the releases are on the inside, how does a rescuer help you if they are on he outside and you are injured/unconscious?

Makes no sense. I would never buy a car with those pop out door handles

MDarringer - 2/26/2019 8:48:57 AM

+6 Boost

And to think that @SJD says he does not work for Tesla.

SanJoseDriver - 2/27/2019 1:59:25 AM

+2 Boost

I know a lot about these cars, like most Tesla owners that are enthusiasts.

Also, if the door is locked from the inside, what good is having any type of handle on the outside? A lot of cars are going the Tesla handle route and the next step of no exterior handles at all is closer than you think.

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:40:31 AM

-6 Boost

One note that the windows on the S are the same as any other car. Thieves break them all the time, not sure why no one was able to break the window. Any heavy object should have been able to do it. I'm sure the police officer had some sort of tool that could be used.

valhallakey - 2/27/2019 1:33:52 AM

+2 Boost

Tesla, Land Rover and Porsche will have to rethink those sexy door handles. I really liked them when I first saw them but never really thought about the accessibility to someone in an accident. Wonder if the Porsche and Land Rover door handles are a similar design?

rockreid - 2/26/2019 8:09:01 AM

-3 Boost

According to latest updates, The driver was going 90mph and crashed. Was probably instantly killed.

Even with airbags likely was internally decapitated, sorry for the family’s loss but it seems this is another case of Darwin winning. Tesla being blamed is ridiculous.

scenicbyway12 - 2/26/2019 12:51:40 PM

+4 Boost

"according" "probably" "Likely"

Every thing you just stated was fiction, stop drink the Kool-aid.

DinduNuffin - 2/28/2019 4:38:15 PM

+1 Boost

There were WITNESSES that saw them speeding moron!

hangtime010 - 2/26/2019 8:46:24 AM

-4 Boost

It's amazing how many think that this is a design fault on Tesla's part. How many cars are programed to automatically unlock in an accident? If the doors are locked, it wouldn't matter if the handles are accessible.

JRobUSC - 2/26/2019 10:45:37 AM

+5 Boost

Um, a lot of them? My first BMW in 2001 would automatically disengage the battery, unlock the doors, and turn on the hazards in an accident. That was 18 years ago. I am sure many others do it by now, too.

scenicbyway12 - 2/26/2019 12:52:54 PM

+5 Boost

Once again the difference between a "Premium Priced" car and a actual premium car.

SanJoseDriver - 2/27/2019 2:01:33 AM

+1 Boost

If a BMW hit that tree at 90mph (after going through a barrier), the end results would be the same. That is pretty cool that the tech is around to do that, too bad it didn't work in this case. The battery was probably damaged before code could execute... hopefully wasn't a bug.

MrEE - 2/26/2019 6:31:18 PM

+4 Boost

Let me add another idiotic response, all cars are dangerous so don't drive.

hangtime010 - 2/27/2019 4:05:09 PM

+2 Boost

JRobUSC - so you claim a lot of them yet can only provide 1 example. NICE.
I know that VW also does that but this site seems to have a dislike for anything VAG. That's 2 makers out of how many????