Car Accident Pierce County WA
A tragic accident involving a Tesla happened on Monday, February 17th, 2025. At around 10:48 in the evening, a driver was speeding at over 100 miles per hour. He was going eastbound on 128th Street East in Puyallup. The driver passed by a Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputy going the other direction. She did a U-turn and followed him without lights or sirens on. She quickly lost sight of the driver, and opted not to pursue a car chase because of the dangerous speed the Tesla was going. Her lapel video captured footage of the vehicle moments before it ended up crashing.
The deputy found the crashed Tesla within a half mile, near the 7700 block of 128th Street East. It had gone through a fence and hit three trees. The car had burst into flames from the accident. When the deputy arrived at the scene, she smashed the driver’s side window to try and extricate the victim from the vehicle. The large male was not responsive, and the deputy was unable to pull him from the vehicle as the flames engulfed the car. First responders have mere seconds to rescue people from burning vehicles, and often they do not survive. Electric cars exacerbate this problem, posing the threat of potentially exploding lithium-ion batteries.
When fire crews arrived at the accident scene, the driver of the Tesla was pronounced dead. Nobody else was injured in the fire or crash. They could put out the fire, and it didn’t spread. Photos of the burned-out shell of the vehicle sitting amongst the wreckage have been released. The fence and trees were still knocked down for days after the accident. The tree branches were hanging on an electrical line. The property owners must clean up and repair the area and remove dangerous debris. When the Tesla was towed from the scene, Central Pierce Fire crews followed behind the tow truck in case the battery caught on fire and the car reignited. The vehicle will be stored apart from others for a few weeks to be safe.
After the incident, local law enforcement agencies warned about the dangers of electric vehicles. They pose a fire risk that should not be ignored. Vehicles, toys, scooters, and vapes that use lithium batteries must be kept away from potentially combustible or flammable items. We’ve discussed multiple accidents involving Teslas, and these vehicles are subjected to controversy. Statewide, emergency responders are working to figure out ways to get car accident victims out of Teslas faster.
It is unknown what led to the accident, although it is being investigated. The driver could have had a medical emergency such as a heart attack and lost control of the vehicle, there could have been a mechanical failure, drugs or alcohol could have been involved, or the driver was speeding recklessly. They have not yet said the results of his autopsy and cause of death. His name has also not yet been released so that next-of-kin can be notified of his death.
Car accident Lawyer SEATTLE WA
With accidents involving electric vehicles (EVs) making the news, people wonder if they are more dangerous in a crash compared to a gas-powered vehicle. Electric cars and trucks have unique safety issues that need to be considered. For starters, they weigh much more than a gas-powered vehicle of the same size, meaning they have more force behind them in an impact. This means that they can cause significant damage to property, other vehicles, and people. A study found that a difference of 1,000 pounds between cars in an accident can increase fatality risk by around 47 percent. Not only that, but this increased weight means that electric vehicles have a longer stopping distance, which can lead to rear-end collisions. The reason that they weigh more is because of the heavy batteries inside them.
Thermal runaway is an exothermic chain reaction that can happen in an electric battery, leading to overheating. The large lithium batteries pose a risk of catching fire, releasing toxic fumes, or even exploding. These battery fires are difficult to put out because they burn hot, requiring massive amounts of water to put out. They can reignite some time after being extinguished. If damaged, the lithium batteries in electric vehicles may also pose a risk of shocking someone. Electric vehicles can also rapidly accelerate, which means that an inexperienced driver may end up crashing. Drivers need to get used to their car’s responsiveness so that they can adapt to it.
However, it’s worth noting that electric cars do have some advantages over gas-powered vehicles when it comes to safety. Electric vehicles have a lower center of gravity, which can reduce the risk of them rolling over, as well as improve handling and responsiveness. Electric vehicles also usually have larger crumple zones, which can protect people in the vehicle from harm in an accident. Many electric vehicle manufacturers are working to address concerns and make their vehicles safer. At the end of the day, it’s not only vehicle design that can cause accidents. Driver behavior is often a more important factor in what leads to an accident. Accidents involving electric vehicles can be catastrophic and dangerous to the people involved.
If you or a loved one was involved in an electric vehicle accident, reach out to Seattle Injury Law. Our firm has experience working on various personal injury case types, and knows the difficulties that may arise. We will successfully handle your claim for you so that you can receive compensation for what happened.
The sooner you reach out to our car accident lawyers, the sooner we can get started on your claim. We will gather evidence, speak with witnesses, and present your case so that you will get justice and recover damages. We don’t get paid until after winning your case, so you won’t have to worry about how to cover legal fees.
Seattle Injury Law is here to stand up for accident injury victims.
