Federal authorities are investigating after a Cybertruck crashed and burst into flames earlier this week, killing the driver. It’s the first known fatality involving Tesla’s unconventional vehicles, though there have been other accidents in the past. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it will investigate the fatal crash, which happened early Monday in the Houston metropolitan area.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the scene of a reported crash near the Grand Parkway early Monday morning, local news reported. Authorities said an initial investigation indicates the truck ran off the road around 1:45 a.m., crashed into a culvert and burst into flames. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. It was also reported that the driver’s identity could not be determined initially due to burns, and the vehicle’s VIN was obscured by the fire, making identification difficult.
As of Monday, it was still unclear what actually caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and go off the road. Gizmodo has reached out to local authorities for more information and will update this story if we hear back.
The NHTSA is investigating the accident, Reuters reported.
The Cybertruck, a Tesla-built vehicle that looks like a cross between a Hummer and a trash can, has been gradually appearing on American roads over the past six months. It was first unveiled in 2019 and has been frequently talked about by Tesla CEO Elon Musk since the company officially started delivering them to customers last November. While it’s still fairly rare to see the Cybertruck, I’ve personally spotted at least six of them idling on various roads across California.
Cars seem to attract attention wherever they go. Just yesterday, Donald Trump was gifted one by popular streamer Adyn Ross, who has generated some buzz for his presidential campaign.
Still, these vehicles have had their share of problems. Reuters reports that Tesla has been forced to recall the 2024 Cybertruck four times. Just a few weeks ago, the company recalled more than 11,000 vehicles due to an electrical issue with unusually loud windshield wipers.
