Stolen Tesla’s Fatality-Free L.A. Crash Surprises Experts

A high-speed crash and fire that left alive the driver of a stolen Tesla Model S last week was so intense that it could have killed the person, according to safety experts who reviewed images of the calamity. That the driver lived may be a testament to the safety features built into the car, one of them said. The car, stolen from Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA)’s service center in west Los Angeles early July 4, outran police before crashing at high speed into vehicles on La Brea Avenue in West Hollywood. The Model S then struck a steel pole and split in two, igniting a fire in the luxury sedan, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire Department reports.