Shares of Tesla Motors were down in pre-market trading on Tuesday, following reports of a serious traffic accident in California. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon local time when a Tesla vehicle collided with an outdoor dining area of a cafe, resulting in one fatality and five injuries. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, and it remains unclear whether any driver-assistance features were involved.
The collision took place around 2:30 PM on June 29th at a busy shopping center located at 2091 Madera Road in Simi Valley. According to local authorities, a white Tesla was navigating a parking lot and attempted to make a right turn onto Madera Road but failed to complete the maneuver. The vehicle subsequently mounted a sidewalk and crashed into the patio seating area of the Urbane Cafe. Fire department officials confirmed that a female pedestrian was trapped under the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Five other individuals sustained minor injuries and were transported to medical facilities.
Police investigations indicate that the driver involved was an elderly woman. She was taken to a hospital for treatment due to reported pain in her chest and arms. There were also four children in the vehicle at the time of the incident. One child received treatment for abrasions and was taken to a hospital by family members for observation. No charges have been filed at this time, and the specific cause of the accident remains under active investigation.
Witnesses reported that the vehicle involved was a Tesla model. The impact resulted in shattered restaurant windows and overturned outdoor tables and umbrellas. Law enforcement has obtained surveillance footage from surrounding businesses to assist in reconstructing the sequence of events.
It is noteworthy that this incident follows another fatal crash involving a Tesla less than two weeks prior in Katy, Texas, where a 76-year-old woman lost her life. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated a special investigation into that event. It is currently unknown whether the Simi Valley crash involved the use of Autopilot or any other driver-assistance technology.
Comments