Reckless Teen Driving May Have Been Behind Tesla Crash
Age and experience and the potential for making a mistake can definitely make a difference when it comes to auto accidents. Younger drivers are far more likely to engage in reckless driving, risking both their lives and the lives of those who ride with them and other drivers that they share the road with.
According to an article appearing on Miami’s CBS local station website, investigators of a fiery crash involving teens driving at high speeds in a Tesla think that may have been what happened.
The two teens that died in the crash have been identified as Barrett Riley, 18, who has been driving the 2014 Tesla Model S, along with Edgar Monserratt, 18 who was a passenger in the front seat. Another passenger, Alexander Berry, 18, had been riding in the back seat and was ejected from the vehicle on impact. He was transported to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
The accident is being scrutinized by the National Transportation Safety Board. Because Tesla vehicles have come under scrutiny for other serious and fatal accidents, the NTSB will be focusing their investigation on the electric vehicle’s battery fire and take action based on reviewing the case
So far, investigators believe that speed was the factor in the deadly crash. Larry Groshart, an eyewitness to the crash told reporters. “I saw the car coming too fast, southbound around that curve, sideswipe the first wall, hit the second wall, the curved wall, and immediately burst into flames,” Groshart said. “It was burning all the way across until it hit the lamp post.”
On March 3rd Riley was driving on US1 near the airport in Fort Lauderdale when officers stopped Riley for driving 112 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone. Police reports indicate that Riley had three other young adults with him in the vehicle at the time.
Tesla is reportedly fully cooperating with investigators and released a statement regarding the crash on Wednesday:
“The family who owned the car has been a close friend of Tesla for many years, and this hits us particularly hard. Everything we have seen thus far indicated a very high-speed collision and that Autopilot was not engaged. Serious high-speed collisions can result in a fire, regardless of the type of car.”