A quiet afternoon outside a Southern California Target turned deadly Monday when a Tesla suddenly jumped a curb and slammed into a café area, killing one woman and injuring five others.
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on June 29 at the Target shopping center at 51 Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley, according to police and local reports. Authorities said a white Tesla Model X crashed into the café area near Urbane Cafe, where outdoor chairs and tables were left scattered after the impact.
One elderly woman who was walking near the restaurant was killed, ABC 7 reported, citing police. When emergency crews arrived, they reportedly found the victim trapped beneath the vehicle.
Five other people were injured in the crash. One person was said to be in critical condition, while others suffered minor injuries, according to local reports.
The Tesla was reportedly being driven by another elderly woman, who was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to her wrist and arm. Her name has not been released.
Aerial video from KTLA showed the white Tesla stopped near the shopping center with its falcon-wing doors raised, its trunk open and its front hood lifted. Chairs from the café were strewn across the crash scene as police and firefighters worked in the area.
The Simi Valley Police Department and Ventura County Fire Department responded to the scene. Officials have not publicly released the identities of the victim, the driver or the others injured.
Investigators are still working to determine exactly what caused the crash. ABC 7 reported that authorities believe the collision may have been accidental, but the deadly incident remains under investigation.
Tesla has not publicly commented on the crash. PEOPLE reported that a representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The horrifying scene is the latest Tesla-related crash to draw attention as investigators continue looking into what went wrong in Simi Valley. For now, police have not said whether driver error, a medical issue, vehicle malfunction or any safety technology played a role.
What began as a normal afternoon at a busy shopping center ended with a woman dead, several others hurt and a community shaken by a crash that unfolded in seconds.
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