Geragos & Geragos via VIA REUTERS
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AUTOMOBILE – Spontaneous fire. An all-new Tesla Model S “Plaid” caught fire in Pennsylvania, United States, with its driver behind the wheel, who struggled to get out of the vehicle, officials and lawyers said. motorist.
The accident happened on Tuesday, June 29 evening in Haverford, not far from Philadelphia, the firefighters of Lower Merion detailed in a statement Friday.
“Due to the scale of the fire and the type of vehicle involved”, several companies were dispatched to the scene, said the firefighters who had to spray the car for more than two hours to extinguish the fire.
According to lawyers claiming to represent the driver, the latter was driving when the vehicle spontaneously ignited. He was temporarily stuck inside before he could get out. Most of the vehicle’s body and interior were burnt down, photos posted to the fire department show.
In a message sent to AFP, Mark Geragos of the firm Geragos & Geragos, who claims to represent the driver, said it was a “frightening” situation and “an obvious major problem”.
“Our preliminary investigation is underway, but we ask Tesla to put these cars on the sidelines until a full investigation can take place,” he added without specifying the name of his client.
He is working on the case together with another lawyer, Jason Setchen from Athlete Defender. Tesla did not respond to an AFP solicitation.
On June 10, the electric vehicle maker delivered the first copies of the new, faster, luxury version of its Model S sedan, dubbed “Plaid”.
With a peak power of 1,020 horsepower, it can go up to 320 kilometers per hour (200 miles per hour) and accelerate from 0 to 97 km / h (60 mph) in 1.99 seconds. It costs $ 129,990.
The US Road Safety Agency (NHTSA) “is aware” of the accident and “is in contact with the relevant agencies and the manufacturer to gather information on the incident,” a spokesperson told the AFP.
“If data or investigations reveal a defect or an inherent safety risk, NHTSA will take appropriate action to protect the public,” he added.
According to a new rule released by the NHTSA on Tuesday, automakers that make cars equipped with driver assistance systems must now report serious accidents to U.S. authorities.
See also on The HuffPost: In London, spectacular fire at the “Elephant & Castle” station
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