A Tesla driver was killed in a horrifying crash Tuesday evening in Buckeye, Arizona, after their electric car erupted into flames — the latest in a string of deadly incidents haunting Elon Musk’s electric empire.
Authorities say the car slammed into an intersection around 5 p.m. and burst into an intense blaze fueled by its lithium-ion battery. Firefighters struggled to douse the inferno, calling in a hazmat team to battle the chemical flames known for their explosive “thermal runaway” reaction.
“The fire was extremely difficult to contain,” one Buckeye fire official told local station Fox 10. “Lithium battery fires are unlike anything else — they reignite, even after being put out.”
The driver, who has not yet been identified, was trapped inside and pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was in the vehicle. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash, though witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion moments before the car ignited.
This tragedy comes as Tesla faces growing scrutiny over its safety record and self-driving software. Just months ago, in August, the company quietly settled a $329 million lawsuit tied to a 2019 crash blamed partly on its Autopilot system. A month later, Tesla reached settlements in two additional fatal cases involving the same controversial feature.
Experts warn that these repeated incidents could signal a deeper problem within the automaker’s technology. “The issue isn’t just human error,” said former NHTSA investigator David Friedman. “It’s the combination of flawed automation and high-speed impacts that turn these vehicles into firebombs.”
A recent study also found that Tesla vehicles had the highest fatal crash rate of any major car brand between 2017 and 2022 — a grim distinction that continues to raise alarms for safety advocates and consumers alike.
As investigators sift through the charred wreckage in Buckeye, questions about accountability, technology, and Tesla’s future on America’s roads are once again burning hotter than ever.
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