Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) confirmed that that the driver of the Model S vehicle was not hurt after an accident in Mexico earlier this month. The driver crashed into a concrete barrier, damaging the front end of the vehicle, which was then consumed by fire.
Tesla contacts the driver involved in accident
The electric car manufacturer immediately contacted the driver and learned that he was not hurt in the accident. Liz Jarvis-Shean, spokesperson for Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) said, “We were able to contact the driver quickly and are pleased that he is safe. This was a significant accident where the car was traveling at such a high speed that it smashed through a concrete wall and then hit a large tree, yet the driver walked away from the car with no permanent injury.”
A separate incident happened wherein a Model S vehicle caught fire while driving on a Washington State highway early this month. Based on the investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the car hit metal debris that cut its lithium battery pack causing the fire. The agency did not find evidence of defects or violations of safety standards.
NHTSA to monitor Tesla cars’ performance
The NHTSA said it will continue to monitor the performance of the vehicles of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). The agency is also aware of the accident in Mexico, but it will not investigate the vehicle because it happened outside the United States.
Karl Brauer, auto industry analyst for Kelly Blue Book commented that the Model S accelerates quietly. Drivers do not hear the same sound from gasoline-engine cars when they increase the speed of the Model S.
“The sensation of speed is largely removed from the car. There have been two serious accidents involving Model S, but there have been two serious accidents where the people inside the vehicles were fine,” said Brauer.
Driver getting a new Model S
In an interview with Bloomberg last week, Tesla CEO Elon Mask said the driver involved in the accident in Washington is getting a new Model S to replace his car. According to Jarvis-Shean, the driver appreciates the safety and performance and of the Model S and requested the company expedite the delivery of his next vehicle. The driver in Mexico also plans to purchase another Model S vehicle despite the accident.
The shares of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) are down by more than 3% to $157.76 a share around noon in New York.
