A Tesla semi-truck on June 28 was involved in a fatal accident that left two people dead and a third person critically injured on a rural highway in northern Nevada, according to authorities.
The deadly collision is the first for Tesla’s semi-truck since the company began mass producing the heavy-duty vehicles in April at its Gigafactory Nevada, about 45 miles north of where the accident occurred.
The driver of the Class 8 electric truck hit two cars stopped at a red light, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
“Preliminary statements obtained at the scene suggest the driver of the semi may have fallen asleep,” Sgt. Shaun Lee said in a statement.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene just before 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Highway 50 and Traditions Parkway in Dayton, Nevada, about 50 miles southeast of Reno.
The rural highway was closed for hours in both directions as fire rescue personnel and law enforcement tended to the victims.
The investigation is active and ongoing, according to Nevada Highway Patrol spokesperson Kim Yoko Smith.
The truck driver’s name and details of the crash were not available. The department expects to release more information about the accident next week, Smith told The Epoch Times.
Tesla’s fully electric Class 8 heavy-duty truck is its first commercial vehicle designed for long haul transportation.
Fully loaded, the truck can weigh up to 82,000 pounds, according to the company.
The electric truck comes with several safety features built in, including 10 exterior cameras and driver monitoring.
While the truck is equipped with monitoring, Tesla hasn’t said whether the semi-trucks are equipped with the company’s “Driver Drowsiness Warning” systems used in its passenger vehicles.
Tesla did not return a request for comment about the accident.
The couple who lost their lives in the accident were identified by their family as Sergio Villanueva and his wife, Jennifer.
The two were vintage car enthusiasts and were in their classic Volkswagen Bug traveling to a VDub Hub of Northern Nevada car show at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, featuring Volkswagen Beetles and Transporter models, a friend said on Facebook.
“Their absence will be deeply felt, and the car world will have a void that can never truly be filled,” Diana Lee said.
A memorial tribute and a candlelight vigil was held at a coffee shop for the couple later that night.
Family and friends have created fundraising pages for their children following the accidents.
