Three people were killed and two others were badly injured when a 2013 Tesla collided with a 2004 Toyota Corolla in Palmdale Friday night.
The crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. on the southbound lanes of the 14 Freeway near Avenue S when the Tesla rear-ended the Toyota. When the California Highway Patrol arrived on scene, the Toyota was on fire.
Three people in the Toyota, believed to be family members, were entrapped and pronounced dead on arrival. Two others, believed to be an adult and a child, were extricated and taken to nearby hospitals.
A 40-year-old male driver, a 13-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy in the back seat were killed. All three were residents of Los Angeles. Tyree Lavon Nash, a 31-year-old resident of Lancaster, was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital with major injuries. A 6-year-old was taken to Children's Hospital L.A. in critical condition.
All passengers in the Toyota were wearing seatbelts.
Multiple innocent bystanders assisted with removing the survivors from the burning vehicle, CHP Officer Jordan Richards said.
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The driver of the Tesla, identified as 58-year-old Ric Garrison of Newhall, suffered minor injuries.
There is no immediate indication that drugs or alcohol played a factor. It is unclear whether charges will be pressed against Garrison.
All southbound lanes of the 14 Freeway were shut down around 10:45 p.m. Friday. They reopened around 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
The crash comes almost 24 hours after a person stole a Tesla from a store and collided with multiple cars and caused a fiery scene in West Hollywood early Friday morning. The driver was left in critical condition, two officers were hospitalized and three others were also injured.
