LOS GATOS — A driver died early Friday morning when their Tesla vehicle caught fire after colliding with a tree off Highway 17, authorities said.
The collision occurred at about 12:26 a.m. when the motorist, driving on the northbound side of Highway 17 south of Lark Avenue, swerved into the right shoulder of the roadway for an unknown reason, said Officer Alicia Moreno with the California Highway Patrol San Jose office.
The vehicle, a Tesla Model 3 with a single occupant, continued down the embankment and collided with a tree, Moreno said. The Tesla then became fully engulfed in flame with the driver still inside.
Authorities do not yet know whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision, Moreno said. It was not immediately known whether the Tesla’s autonomous driving capabilities were in use at the time of the crash.
The driver’s identity will be released by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office after their name is confirmed and their next of kin is notified.
The incident remains under investigation. All lanes of the roadway have reopened.
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