Tesla Motors Confirms Third Model S Fire, Police Say Running Over Road Debris May Have Sparked Blaze

Photo credit: Instagram user DavanH

Tesla Motors is confirming that for the third time in less than two months a Model S electric car has caught fire after an accident and burned. The news first surfaced on the Tesla Motor Club website on Wednesday and after photos were posted on Instagram and the word spread, Tesla Motors stock, which has been buffeted recently, declined again, -6% in early trading today. The fire occurred in Smyrna, Tennessee, coincidentally about four miles from where Nissan assembles the Leaf EV. Police suggest that running over a piece of metal debris, the same cause of one of the earlier Model S fires, may have been the cause of the blaze.

A Tesla spokesperson confirmed the incident and said that it is in contact with the owner and starting an investigation. "Our team is on its way to Tennessee to learn more about what happened in the accident. We will provide more information when we're able to do so."  The electric car company said that the fire was not spontaneous, that it was the result of a collision. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that the incident occurred on Interstate 24 in Smyrna around 1:30 pm.

"It's possible that it ran over a piece of metal in the roadway," police dispatcher Kathy Bryant said. "There was extensive damage." Police don't know the speed of the car when the accident occurred but the driver was able to safely pull over to the shoulder and exit the car without any injuries.

The first fire in a Tesla Model S took place outside of Seattle, Washington when a piece of metal debris in the road punctured the front battery pack's protective armor. The second fire occurred in Merida, Mexico, where a Model S burned after crashing through a concrete wall and then hitting a tree. No injuries were reported in either of those accidents and fires and the Tesal company says that both owners want to replace their burned cars with another Model S.

Since the first fire, Tesla's shares are off more than 26 percent and this week's stock price declines are the worst one-week drop in a year and a half. Analysts attribute some of that decline to profit taking and price correction to more accurately reflect the company's true value.

from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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