Three dead after Tesla Cybertruck smashed into tree & caught on fire as vehicle called 911 itself to alert cops to crash
THREE people have died after a Tesla Cybertruck smashed into a tree and burst into flames in a devastating crash.
The electric vehicle mounted the curb before striking a tree and plowing into a wall, according to police.
Emergency services found the front end of the vehicle partially wrapped around the tree.
The Tesla burst into flames following the crash, and photos from the scene show it entirely burned through.
Only the Cybertruck was involved in the crash which happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Piedmont, an enclave city within Oakland, California.
The Cybertruck automatically alerted 911 at 3:08 am local time following the crash.
Neighbors found the mangled wreck and called for paramedics.
All three victims were inside the vehicle at the time and were pronounced dead at the scene.
A fourth occupant who was seated in the front was pulled from the vehicle by a driver who arrived just after the crash.
They were rushed to a hospital with severe injuries.
The Tesla’s battery did not catch fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Police found the Cybertruck still in flames when they arrived at the scene.
The Piedmont Police Department is investigating the crash.
Police Captain Chris Monahan said the truck “jumped the curb, struck a cement wall, and then wedged in between the wall and a tree.”
Piedmont’s Police Chief Jeremy Bowers said the fourth passenger was pulled from the vehicle by a young man who had been following the Cybertruck.
It isn’t yet known whether he knew the passengers of the vehicle before the crash.
Our hearts go out to the families that are going to have to deal with this tragedy.
Jeremy Bowers
“The solo vehicle that was involved in the crash, there was another vehicle that came after it, that was following behind and came upon the vehicle as it was fully engulfed,” Bowers told local Fox affiliate KTVU.
“The individual exited the car and was able to pull the person out, but the nature of the vehicle was a Cybertruck and the heat was just too intense.”
Authorities haven’t ruled out whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
“This is just a tragic loss of life,” Bowers said.
“We don’t know the cause of the collision and during the holiday season, our hearts go out to the families that are going to have to deal with this tragedy.”
The California Highway Patrol and Piedmont Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Piedmont, a town of just over 10,000 people, was in the top 20 wealthiest neighborhoods in California, according to the most recent US census.
As the Bay Area has seen a surge of new tech money in recent decades, Oakland and the surrounding towns have become increasingly expensive.
Average house prices in Piedmont were over $2.4 million this year, compared to the $869,000 average for California, according to Zillow.