Police say burning Tesla battery prevented them from saving driver in fatal crash
A driver in Torrance is dead after police say they were unable to save the person from their Tesla because of its burning lithium-ion battery.
Torrance police responded to a single-vehicle collision involving a Tesla at the intersection of Madrona Avenue and Plaza Del Amo Tuesday at about 10:15 p.m., according to a department news release.
A 2025 Tesla Model Y was southbound on Madrona Avenue when, for unknown reasons, the electric car swerved to the right, collided with a traffic pole and caught fire with the driver trapped inside, authorities said.
Officers tried to get into the vehicle to save the driver, but the department said,
Due to the intensity of the flames and heat, they were unable to rescue the occupant,
The fight to put out the fire was then further complicated by officials said,
Challenges associated with the vehicle’s lithium-ion batteries,
The driver, and only occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident is the latest example of the safety risks emergency crews can face when responding to incidents that involve high-voltage lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report published in 2020.
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Police say burning Tesla battery prevented them from saving driver in fatal crash, source
