Feds to investigate deadly Tesla vs. big rig crash near Virginia truck stop

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into a fatal crash involving a Tesla and a big rig that occurred in Virginia last month.

Reuters reports that on August 10, the NHTSA announced the launch of a probe into a crash that occurred around 6:30 p.m. on July 19, 2023, in Warrenton, Virginia.

The crash occurred as a semi truck was exiting the Quarles Truck Stop and attempting to turn onto a highway. A Tesla Model Y that is suspected to have been in advanced driver assist mode was northbound on James Madison Highway and failed to stop. The Tesla crashed underneath the tractor trailer, killing 57 year old driver Pablo Teodoro III.

According to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, truck driver Leroy Kenneth, 58, was cited for reckless driving following the crash.

The NHTSA has opened dozens of investigations into fatal crashes involving Tesla vehicles suspected of using driver assist technologies.

Notably, an investigation was launched into a double fatality crash that occurred at a rest stop on July 6, 2022, near Gainesville, Florida. In this crash, a Tesla left I-75 for unknown reasons and collided with a parked semi truck’s trailer, killing both the driver and a passenger. The truck driver was not hurt.