Lithium-ion battery fire prevents police from saving driver stuck in burning Tesla

POLICE SAY A BURNING TESLA BATTERY PREVENTED THEM FROM SAVING A DRIVER INVOLVED IN WHAT BECAME A DEADLY CAR CRASH.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED TUESDAY NIGHT IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA.

ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS-

A 2025 TESLA MODEL Y WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND WHEN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, IT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, STRUCK A TRAFFIC POLE, AND CAUGHT FIRE.

OFFICERS REPORTED THE DRIVER WAS LEFT TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE-

BUT THEIR ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE THE PERSON FAILED, DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FLAMES AND HEAT PREVENTING THEM FROM REACHING THE OCCUPANT.

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED, BUT THEIR EFFORTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WERE COMPLICATED BY THE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY THAT POWERS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE-

WITH FLAMES REPORTEDLY SHOOTING UP FIVE TO TEN FEET INTO THE AIR

THE DRIVER, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

THIS INCIDENT MARKS THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE SAFETY RISKS EMERGENCY CREWS CAN FACE WHEN RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS THAT INVOLVE EVS-

A PROBLEM STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS HAS REPORTED ON IN THE PAST.

ACCORDING TO A 2020 REPORT BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAN POSE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS-

DUE TO RISKS OF REIGNITION AND ELECTRIC SHOCK WHILE BATTLING FLAMES THAT CAN BURN OVER 3,000 DEGREES HOTTER THAN A REGULAR FIRE.

THE VICTIM OF THIS LATEST ACCIDENT HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED AND THE FATAL CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION-

WITH THE TORRANCE POLICE DEPARTMENT ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CONTACT THEM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.