10- Sarina Astorga
Sarina Astorga was driving down the street, in her native Salt Lake City,
when she became the unfortunate victim of a car collision. A Tesla crashed against a Nissan,
prompting both vehicles to spiral out of control, slamming with full force against
Astorga’s car and three other people. Though the 50-year-old woman was the
only fatal victim, five people in total had to be hospitalized and remained in critical condition,
including both drivers. The Tesla owner had been speeding and ignoring traffic signals.
While traveling at over 122 mph, he’d run a red light before the crash occurred.
9-Fort Lauderdale teenagers
Three teenagers decided to take their Tesla Model S on a ride,
driving at high speeds down the streets of Fort Lauderdale, in Florida. They lost control of the
car and the vehicle started spinning. This caused one of the 18-year-olds to be thrown
out the window and land hard on the concrete. The two other teens became trapped inside the vehicle.
Bystanders watched in horror as the vehicle’s batteries then burst into flames. The fire was too
strong and it prevented any attempts to rescue the two boys. By the time first responders arrived,
it was too late. Even though a four-person specialized team had been deployed,
the driver and his companion were already dead. The young man lying on the street was rushed
to the hospital, and his condition remains unknown as of the recording of this video.
What is it?
Tesla Inc. is a company founded in 2003 in Palo Alto, California. It produces electric vehicles
that include several high-tech features. Since its creation, it has expanded to create solar
energy products, battery energy storage, and other environmentally-conscious services.
Tesla prides itself on updating its cars’ software online,
improving functionality for free. Tesla offers an autopilot feature
that allows users to receive assistance while on the road. The company has stated that a human
being must supervise the driving direction and emphasized that its cars are not yet autonomous.
8-Mike, Liam and Quinn Cochlin
Mike Cochlin was traveling with his two young children, Liam and Quinn,
aged 8 and 5, down Highway 5A in Alberta. The Tesla’s Autopilot system reportedly failed,
and the car veered off the road and into an embankment. Cochlin died on the spot,
while his children were immediately taken to the closest hospital.
There, the older brother perished as well. In a desperate attempt to save Quinn’s life,
the doctors decided to transfer him to a children’s hospital in Vancouver. Unfortunately,
he too would succumb to his injuries. The family released a statement informing friends
and well-wishers that his organs would be donated in the hope of saving other lives.
7-Incident in Nanchong, China
An unnamed 51-year-old woman in Nanchong, China, was driving her Tesla car when the auto brake
reportedly failed. This led to her driving straight into oncoming traffic. She ran over
several pedestrians and only came to a stop after crashing into multiple other cars. Two people died
on the street, and six others were rushed to the hospital. Several vehicles were badly damaged,
resulting in significant repair bills. Though the exact cause of the accident
wasn’t officially released, alcohol and drugs were ruled out, and media outlets claimed that
the car had simply “gone out of control.” Tesla Inc. refused to comment on the matter, and this
deadly crash was just one of several involving the company during that year in the Chinese province.
Where is it located?
Though Tesla cars are sold all over the world, there are specific locations where
supercharger stations are being built. As of the end of 2019, the company had installed
1,716 such stations globally. To avoid drivers leaving their cars in these spots for too long,
an idle fee is applied after the batteries are fully charged. To keep their products virtually
maintenance-free, Tesla produces vehicles with merely 17 moving parts, compared to the 200-plus
components featured in conventional cars. That being said, Tesla has been highly criticized
for failing to stick to promised release dates and for its vulnerability to hacker attacks.
6-Ezekiel Bishop and Ryan Breaux
On Westlake Boulevard in Ventura County, California, a single-car crash would claim
the lives of Ezekiel Bishop and Ryan Breaux. By the time the accident was reported,
the Tesla sedan had burst into flames, and both men were trapped inside,
already unresponsive. Their bodies were eventually recovered, and they were declared
dead at the scene. Police speculated the crash had resulted from speeding and that
the force of the impact caused the batteries to explode, leading to the fire. Little information
was issued about the driver and his companion, at first. After their families were notified,
their names were announced. Bishop and Breaux were former Oaks Christian School students,
and the alumnus organized a ceremony in their honor soon after the news broke.
5- Unnamed driver and passenger
Two adult men, whose names weren’t released to the public, were involved in a deadly road
accident, at Laguna Canyon Road. The driver and his companion traveled
in a Honda Accord when a Tesla user lost control of his car,
veering directly into oncoming traffic. This led to a collision that ended with the first vehicle
being completely wrecked. Though the Tesla’s driver suffered minor injuries, the two other men
died from the force of the impact. Debris was spread all across the road, which led to it being
closed for most of the morning. No additional information was provided by the authorities.
How will it kill you?
Up until November of 2020, 150 deaths related to Tesla cars
have been documented. A report published in 2017, by the Highway Loss Data Institute,
concluded Tesla Model S is 50% more expensive to repair after accidents than regular cars. Model X
had similar problems, being 41% more prone to crashes and repairs were astonishingly 89%
costlier than other brands. This led to insurance companies raising their primes for Tesla users.
Tesla has been involved in several court cases and has been sentenced to pay different compensations,
as a direct result. In 2020, a court ruled that the Autopilot technology’s features
were not only heavily exaggerated but it led drivers to experience a false sense of security,
making accidents more likely. Autopilot mode seems prone to reckless behaviors,
such as braking harshly, veering out of a lane, and even ignoring road hazards.
Software problems are eerily frequent, which leads to radar failures, tailgating, and sudden speed
changes. This can lead to catastrophic accidents resulting in hospitalization and even death.
4-Marjorie Hill
At 9:32 am in Chardon, Ohio, an 83-year-old woman driving a Subaru
Forester was surprised by a Tesla Model S suddenly pulling into an intersection.
Marjorie Hill wasn’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and had to be rushed to
the hospital via a LifeFlight helicopter. Unfortunately, she ended up dying in the ER,
despite the doctors’ best efforts to save her life. As of 2020, the case remains under
investigation. The Tesla’s driver, a 33-year-old man whose name wasn’t released to the media,
was wearing his seat belt and didn’t require hospitalization.
3-Unnamed Pennsylvanian woman
In August of 2019, a 31-year-old woman was run over by an out-of-control Tesla. She
wasn’t standing on the street or even driving a car, but was inside a sales office building. Her
family requested her identity to be withheld from the public so they'd be able to mourn in privacy.
The Tesla Model 3 driver changed lanes at the last minute in an intersection and accelerated
suddenly. This prompted her to lose control. The car struck a Bay to the Beach office,
slamming against the employee, who was working at her desk. The crash victim was rushed to
the hospital and remained in critical condition until she passed away from her severe injuries.
How to survive?
Though autopilot is a useful feature, it requires the human driver to remain alert.
Falling asleep at the wheel or getting distracted is to be avoided. One of the best ways to avoid
an autopilot-related accident is to drive as if the system wasn’t activated and rely on it
only for comfort. Human supervision cannot be replaced. When used properly, the autopilot
feature can be a powerful tool towards maintaining road safety. It assists drivers with speed,
lane changes, parking, and even with following street signs properly.
Tesla Inc. informs its users that keeping their hands on the steering wheel at all times is vital,
and a reminder appears each time the feature is activated.
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2-James A. Accurso
Quebec-based businessman Tony Accurso had already been sentenced to four years in
prison on charges of fraud and corruption when his son perished in a tragic car accident.
James Accurso was being driven by his companion, a 38-year-old man. Both were drunk,
and failed to notice a sharp curve ahead. It’s reported the Tesla was on Autopilot, though this
hasn’t been confirmed by official sources. The road was completely clear. Accurso died shortly
after being rushed to the hospital. The driver suffered minor injuries and was promptly released
but could subsequently be charged with reckless driving and causing the death of his passenger.
1-Gao Yaning
Gao Yaning had activated his Tesla Model S’ Autopilot system when it crashed against a
parked truck before striking a road sweeper. The accident occurred on a Chinese highway,
300 miles south of Beijing. The entire sequence was recorded by a camera installed on the
vehicle’s rearview mirror. It shows that Tesla’s driving assistance system failed to activate the
brakes before or after the impact. Tesla Inc. refused to speak to the media, only releasing
a statement claiming they could not retrieve any data regarding the collision. They argued that,
since the damage was so extensive, they had no access to the car’s log data. Gao’s family
sued the dealership. They claimed that the young man was led to believe the Autopilot feature was
completely safe and autonomous, which is why he didn’t keep his eyes on the road.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather drive a Tesla while blindfolded or go parachuting
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