- Speed was likely a factor in the crash of a Tesla Model X that sent three teenagers to the hospital, police said.
- The Tesla Model X hit a tree in southern New Hampshire before splitting in two and catching on fire.
- One passenger sustained life-threatening injuries, according to the accident report, and was transported to a UMass hospital.
- Despite some headline-making fires, the Tesla Model X has a near-perfect safety rating.
Three teenagers were injured after one drove a 2017 Tesla Model X off the road and into a tree in southern New Hampshire on Wednesday, according to state police.
Speed was likely a factor in the accident, according to the accident report, and the car split in two and caught fire after the impact. The driver and one passenger were taken to a community hospital with “serious but non-life threatening injuries,” while the third passenger was taken to the UMass hospital in Worcester with life-threatening injuries.
NEW: 3 teenagers hurt, one critically, when 2017 Tesla Model X crashed into a tree in Rindge, New Hampshire, split in 2 and caught fire. Pictures courtesy Michelle Barnhart #WBZ pic.twitter.com/FhroaG6xbH
— Jim Harrington (@jejharrington) December 27, 2018
Photos from the rural road show a massive fireball and a chunk of the vehicle that’s nearly unidentifiable because of the damage. It’s not clear if Autopilot was installed on the vehicle or if it was in use at the time.
3 Teens Injured After Tesla Split In Two During Fiery NH Crash https://t.co/Lp7sh0GW59 pic.twitter.com/Rk7LzGp476
— WBZ | CBS News Boston (@wbz) December 27, 2018
Despite some headline-making fires, Tesla's Model X is one of the safest vehicles on the road, according to the US government and third-party testers.
Rindge PD and state police said the make and model of the car, which they wouldn't describe beyond "a hybrid type vehicle," were a fire hazard.
A fire was put out after first responders arrived, and the vehicle appears to be a Tesla. pic.twitter.com/CHlDeObgOo
— Jake Lahut (@JakeLahut) December 27, 2018
A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Have a Tesla news tip? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
A day after this horrific crash in Rindge, NH, firefighters still trying to clean up thousands of #Tesla batteries left behind. Hear from a family member of one of the teenage victims coming up at 4 pm on @NBC10Boston and @NECN pic.twitter.com/FPt0JGze3B
— Katherine Underwood (@KatherineWMUR) December 27, 2018