A Tesla vehicle crash in western France has resulted in four fatalities after the car reportedly struck a road sign and burst into flames, local police reported Monday.
The incident occurred Saturday night near the city of Niort, according to Lt. Eric Hoarau, a local police spokesman. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“Everything suggests (the vehicle) came off the road,” Hoarau stated, citing evidence of tire marks on the ground and a severed road sign at the scene.
The absence of eyewitnesses is complicating the investigation, Hoarau added. All four occupants of the vehicle were burned beyond recognition in the intense fire that followed the collision.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or the specific model of the Tesla involved in the crash.
Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.
The crash adds to a series of high-profile incidents involving Tesla vehicles, which have drawn scrutiny over their safety features and autopilot system. However, it is currently unknown whether any automated driving features were in use at the time of this particular accident.
French authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the factors that led to this tragic event.
