A French prosecutor reported that a Tesla electric vehicle caught fire in western France on the evening of December 12, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. According to an Associated Press report, police spokesperson Eric Hoarau indicated that the vehicle may have lost control and crashed into a roadside sign, but the specifics are still under investigation. Hoarau mentioned, “The marks on the ground and a severed road sign suggest there may have been an issue with speeding.”
Sources reveal that the incident took place in the outskirts of Niort, where the driver and three passengers, all employees of a nearby restaurant in Melle, lost their lives.
Central News Agency, citing reports from Agence France-Presse, noted that local authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the factors and circumstances surrounding the fatal incident, which will involve expert analysis concerning the vehicle in question.
Initial reports indicate that the car struck multiple road signs at high speed. When rescue teams arrived on the scene, all passengers were confirmed dead.
In a similar tragedy, a 30-year-old man in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province also experienced a Tesla-related incident on the 10th. He reportedly crashed his vehicle, leading to a fire, and was later found deceased in the back seat. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver was conscious after the crash but couldn’t escape due to being unable to open the car door and was ultimately trapped inside as the vehicle burned.
It’s worth noting that Tesla, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, has frequently faced scrutiny regarding safety issues.
