DAYTON, NV — A Tesla Semi struck two passenger vehicles stopped at a red light on US 50 in Dayton on Sunday morning, leaving two people dead and a third person with life-threatening injuries. Investigators have not said what caused the crash, but early information from the scene suggests the driver may have fallen asleep.
What Officials Say
The Nevada State Police are investigating the collision, which appears to be the first known fatal crash involving Tesla’s fully electric Semi. Deputies with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary information from the scene suggests the driver of the truck might have fallen asleep, though that account has not been confirmed.
Vehicles Involved
One of the struck vehicles was a classic Volkswagen Beetle, and the other was a red Toyota RAV4 SUV. Photos from the aftermath showed the Beetle heavily damaged near the roadside and the semi with a damaged front bumper, while the SUV had severe rear-end damage.
Victims And Injuries
The two people who died were a married couple, and authorities said they were pronounced dead at the scene. A third person was flown to a local hospital and remains in life-threatening condition.
Road Closures And Scene
Both directions of US 50 were closed for several hours while crews cleared debris and investigators worked the scene. The crash occurred near a location about an hour from Tesla’s Gigafactory Nevada, where the Semi is being manufactured.
What Is Still Unknown
Officials have not released the name of the driver or the trucking operator. Tesla’s Semi is not sold with Full Self-Driving, but it does include safety systems such as autonomous emergency braking, and investigators have not said whether any of those features played a role in the crash.
Utah, from the Wasatch to the border – Chambyte has it covered.