AURORA | Police say a 26-year–old man was killed Monday night when he crashed his Tesla clocked at 97 mph into cars at an intersection in east Aurora.
Police were conducting a speed enforcement operation at about 8 p.m. near East Alameda Avenue and South Quintero Way when they clocked a Tesla on westbound Alameda driving at 97 mph, Aurora police spokesperson Agent Matthew Wells said in a statement.
“The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the Tesla appeared to accelerate,” Wells said. “In response, the officer deactivated his emergency lights and did not pursue.”
The driver of the Tesla continued on Alameda, running a red light at South Airport Boulevard, witnesses told police, and collided with a northbound car in the intersection.
“The Tesla then spun out, striking two additional vehicles — one of which was an Aurora police car, stopped at the intersection,” Wells said. “During the crash, the Tesla’s driver was partially ejected as the vehicle came to a stop.”
Police said the man died on scene.
Two adults and four children inside the first car that the Tesla struck were transported to a nearby hospital and were treated for minor injuries.
“The Aurora Police officer and other driver were not injured,” Wells said.
The Tesla “sustained battery damage and entered thermal runaway, resulting in a fire,” Wells said. “To minimize hazardous water runoff, the fire was allowed to burn itself out. Once the fire was fully extinguished and the vehicle cooled, it was safely towed from the scene.”
The intersection was closed until about 2 a.m. for investigation, cleanup and to repair damage to the intersection’s traffic lights caused by the crash.
The identity of the Tesla driver will be released by the Arapahoe County coroner office.
There is CONSTANT speeding on Alameda/Tower going both directions. I’m not talking 5-10 over, I’m witnessing knuckleheads routinely doing 75-90 mph at all hours of the day and night.
Not only did young man make bad decisions (speeding, fleeing, running light), he has severely impacted the lives of innocent victims. Six injured, for what?
APD, please continue vigorous enforcement. These drivers consider themselves untouchable.
“Continue”?!?…
How about start vigorous enforcement of traffic laws & actual intervention of indaviuals who’s dangerous behaviors represent not only crimes, but an active threat to the public at large?
Police response has been a sick joke in Aurora and Denver (most of Colorado’s major cities really) for years now. We can thank our politicians, at both the state and local levels for that and they just keep making it worse. Paying lip service to supporting law enforcement, law & order, public safty, but undercutting all of it.
With their own corruption.
Their nonsensical ideologies, demonizing rhetoric of proven stabilizing societal / cultural norms, while pushing destructive fringe lifestyle choices as, excusable, or even brave and morally ideal.
Their dismantling, circumventing, ignoring or selective enforcement of the existing laws that kept both public an police safe and criminals accountable.
Their servicing special interests above the needs of the citizenry at large.
Their waging of endless lawfare, sin taxation, bureaucratic burdening, restrictive legislation and PR spin campaigns against legitimate industries, businesses and individuals they find distasteful, offensive or just out of line with their agendas.
Their outright violations or negation of law abiding citizens rights, in repeatedly proposing and whenever possible, passing legislation to favor criminals, create victims, while penalizing, even promoting criminalizetion of the people who dare to take on the responsibility of protecting themselves and others, including our police.
The moral, legal, rational and journalistic dishonesty is staggering and the results are tragic.
What an idiotic response. Blaming everyone but the person who made a series of wrong choices that led to his death. Your jaded worldview is obvious in your response. What’s the matter? Is Truth Social down again?
Was it possible the Tesla malfunctioned and accelerated on its own? Haven’t there been issues with these vehicles?
Suspecthat he was fleeing.
Hope we can learn if drunk/drugs.
Assume thathe vehicle is designed so the brakes can overcome unintended acceleration.