A tragic incident in western France on Saturday night resulted in the deaths of four individuals when a Tesla electric car caught fire under still-undetermined circumstances, according to prosecutors. The accident occurred near the city of Niort and involved the driver and three passengers, who were reportedly employees at a nearby restaurant in Melle.
A local judge informed AFP that an inquiry has been launched to ascertain the causes and circumstances surrounding the deadly incident, which will include an examination of the vehicle. Preliminary reports indicate that the Tesla struck multiple road signs at high speed prior to the fire.
Rescue teams arrived at the scene only to find that all four occupants had already succumbed to their injuries, according to police reports.
Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer founded by billionaire CEO Elon Musk, has faced scrutiny over safety concerns in the past. In April, the company reached a settlement with the family of an engineer who died in a 2018 crash involving a Tesla Model X in Silicon Valley, avoiding a court trial. The driver was reportedly using the Tesla’s autopilot feature when the car collided with a concrete median.
Furthermore, in December, Tesla recalled over two million vehicles across the United States and Canada due to risks associated with the autopilot software, which was linked to an increased likelihood of collisions, according to US national regulators.