A married couple was killed in Nevada after a Tesla Semi truck slammed into their stopped vehicle, marking the first known fatal crash involving the electric heavy-duty truck. The collision occurred on Sunday morning on U.S. Route 50 in Dayton, about 80 kilometres east of Reno.
Victims identified as Sergio and Jennifer Villanueva
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department and Nevada Highway Patrol identified the deceased as Sergio and Jennifer Villanueva. The couple was stopped at a traffic signal in their Volkswagen Beetle at around 7:20 a.m. when the 10-tonne Tesla Semi struck them from behind, according to Trooper James LaRose of the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol. The couple died at the scene, while the driver of the Tesla Semi was uninjured. Another person was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, though details on that individual were not immediately available.
Preliminary reports suggest driver may have fallen asleep
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary statements from the scene indicated the truck driver may have fallen asleep while operating the vehicle. The crash remains under investigation by the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol. Authorities have not released the identity of the truck driver, the vehicle’s owner or operator, or potential charges.
Tesla Semi's safety features under scrutiny
The Tesla Semi is a Class 8 electric truck manufactured at Tesla’s Gigafactory Nevada near Sparks, about an hour from the crash site. According to Tesla’s website, the Semi includes active safety features that “pair with advanced motor and brake controls to deliver traction and stability in all conditions.” The crash comes as U.S. safety regulators debate whether heavy vehicles over 10,000 pounds should be required to have automatic emergency braking systems, which could reduce rear-end collisions.
