A bus carrying Tesla workers crashed into a vehicle on a California highway Friday morning, killing an off-duty police officer, authorities stated.
The bus, which was had over 50 workers of the electric car company, was driving on a freeway east of the Tesla factory located in Fremont when it rear-ended a Volkswagen Beetle around 7 am, crushing the vehicle and killing the driver, as per the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
One passenger on the bus suffered small injuries however treated on the scene, stated CHP spokesman Derek Reed. The bus was contracted by the automaker and was driving to Stockton, a city 50 miles east of the automaker’s main center in Fremont.
“We are aware of a crash this morning involving an independently-operated shuttle bus having Tesla workers and another vehicle,” the company stated.
“All Tesla staff members on the bus are safe and accounted for, however we are deeply saddened by reports that there was a death as a result of the accident. We will lend any support that we can to the authorities who are investigating the incident.”
The Volkswagen Beetle pulled up on the highway, and because of the glare from the sun, the bus motorist was unable to see the vehicle, as per Reed.
“The car was crushed and the driver was caught inside, and he died on the scene,” he stated, adding that it was unclear why the vehicle had stopped.
The high-end vehicle company is among few other corporations establishing self-driving vehicle technology in Silicon Valley, and CEO Elon Musk has argued that autonomous driving will significantly decrease traffic accidents.
Video from the scene of the crash on Friday, which took place in the city of Livermore, showed CHP officers gathering around the body, saluting and draping an American flag over the deceased officer.
CHP did not immediately informed the name of the officer or identify the person’s police agency.
