Speed and alcohol impairment factors behind fiery Tesla crash

KELOWNA – Speed and alcohol impairment, not mechanical failure, are to blame for a fatal Tesla crash March 18 in Coquitlam.

A Coquitlam RCMP investigation determined that the driver had more than three times the legal amount of alcohol in his system and was travelling more than 150 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.

The crash was on Lougheed Highway near Alderson Avenue just before 1 a.m. The driver and lone occupant of a Tesla was killed when the vehicle lost control and left the road. At the time, the crash got a lot of public attention with people raising concerns about the safety of Tesla. 

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin, media relations officer for the Coquitlam RCMP, said that's why the RCMP addressed speculation about the safety of the car.

"We wanted to make sure people had the right information," he said.

Due to Privacy Act considerations, the name of the driver will not be released.

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