Tesla model 3 accident with a Mack truck

[Iceman8]

If the car gets totalled, assuming it is at some lot right now for insurance to inspect, if you haven't read the stories lately, you'll want to do a reset on the car to erase any personal information you may have on it such as phone calls, addresses, calendars, etc.

Thanks for the heads up...I did read the stories, but when we actually went back to get some stuff in the car, the display wasn't working at all...I think everything was running off of the 12v battery... So I'm not sure if any other way to reset the car...

 

[Darscot]

Thanks for the heads up...I did read the stories, but when we actually went back to get some stuff in the car, the display wasn't working at all...I think everything was running off of the 12v battery... So I'm not sure if any other way to reset the car...

I wouldn't worry about it at all, there are far easier ways to get your contacts than reviving a Tesla then hacking into it. Yes you can hack a Tesla and find out someone phone number, 411 and the phone book also have this information.

 

[LCR1]

Motorcyclists are definitely more aware of what's happening on the road and thinking 5 steps ahead for every possible outcome than normal motorists. It makes sense since your life constantly depends on your situational awareness and reactions. Defensive/proactive driving.

Riding a bike is a different paradigm, I am bike rider too. I am extremely cautious while riding, as I know my disadvantages. But same thing should apply with commercial vehicle. They should be extra careful, know how much it would require them to stop. And besides there is a law for it too.

But there's no reason a motorist can't do this as well and it would behoove any motorist to think this way, regardless of how many wheels. It all worked out in the end for this car, but it might not work out for the next person.

 

[La Piazza]

I noticed that the ambulance went a different direction after the accident. Did help come quickly?
Question: did you get the footage from Tesla or or your USB drive?

 

[hacer]

...and the ambulance was stopped at its red light, with the intention of crossing only when safe to do

False. The ambulance was moving towards the intersection when she first applied her brakes and the ambulance came to a full stop in about the same time (and distance) that she did.

.... There is no law demanding drivers to actively and abruptly stop when seeing an ambulance stopped at a red light without an engaged siren, as was the situation here.

False. The law demands that vehicles yield to ambulance even at a green light. The ambulance was approaching the intersection at a decent clip when she first started braking, and she came to a stop in ~ 4.7 seconds of braking. If she was going 45 MPH, that is 0.44 G's deceleration - far from panic braking.

... But since she heard no siren, but only saw a stationary ambulance, albeit with its lights on...

False. You didn't even watch the video or, if you did, you saw what you wanted to see rather than what actually happened.

 

[Buggle]

The siren was not on because it was not an emergency. I see non emergency ambulances all the time. They are taking someone to a nursing home or something.

The ambulance had a police escort. This wasn't a nursing home run.

I'll say one thing that someone said before, but it hasn't been said nearly enough -- what's the dumptruck doing cruising along in the left lane for blocks? That's the #1 issue in this accident, that along with the dump truck following too close. Any behaviour on the part of the guys wife is secondary to these two facts. I hate ****in trucks driving in the left lane.

 

[mongo]

Accidents happen and it people way too easily point fingers.

In this case, I was not pointing fingers. I was however, pointing out two pieces of data (no braking and no steering changes) that indicate the truck driver may not have been paying attention and that the Tesla's braking rate did not make a collision inevitable.

 

[CRASHER]

False. The ambulance was moving towards the intersection when she first applied her brakes and the ambulance came to a full stop in about the same time (and distance) that she did.

True, Ontario have law requiring all emergency vehicle to stop @ red lights even if they have light and sirens on.
I am so pissed off with (almost all) truckers, who don't respect the law endangering lives of other motorist.

 

[Buggle]

Having conversed with an experienced traffic lawyer: he assures me the law does not require that one must "yield" to an emergency vehicle stopped at a red traffic light, as it is not moving and thus there is nothing to "yield" to. The mere presence of such vehicles is not grounds for deference and does not in itself create an imperative to yield. These are legal arguments that according to him, have been successfully won in court. However, every case is always different in some way, and only the circumstances and parties directly involved, including unbiased witnesses, can affect legal outcomes if it came to that. Again, very glad your wife was OK, particularly considering the amount of shock and damage, and wish a good outcome for you all.

What?? A lawyer gave a highly nuanced and very non-committal answer?

 

[Iceman8]

I noticed that the ambulance went a different direction after the accident. Did help come quickly?
Question: did you get the footage from Tesla or or your USB drive?

Since the police were there already, help did come quickly...I got the footage from a usb drive that was connected to the car... The cameras were actually still capturing footage for about 20 minutes after the accident...

 

[Buggle]

yeah, sorry, you're right, meant to say that he got a ticket...

For what tho, careless driving? That's a charge.

 

[Iceman8]

For what tho, careless driving? That's a charge.

As mentioned earlier, it's probably best to leave the legal side of things out of this discussion... The whole thread kind of went in a different direction than I thought it would go... It'd be nice to try to keep the discussion on how the car performed during the accident

 

[dgatwood]

People suggesting a dump truck can stop in its own length or should have just swerved is laughable.

Maybe you missed the empty part. It was an empty dump truck. It weighs only about five Model Xs — less than a city bus. We're not talking about a fully-loaded semi here.

 

[mswlogo]

The ambulance had a police escort. This wasn't a nursing home run.

I'll say one thing that someone said before, but it hasn't been said nearly enough -- what's the dumptruck doing cruising along in the left lane for blocks? That's the #1 issue in this accident, that along with the dump truck following too close. Any behaviour on the part of the guys wife is secondary to these two facts. I hate ****in trucks driving in the left lane.

Most police escorts I know of drive in front of what they are escorting.

It appears siren, or no siren, escort or no escort, they need to stop if they are going to the run a red light.
The OP's wife decided, in the moment to stop at the green light (at her option), but in my opinion she didn't do it safely.

That truck, in my opinion was not that close for those speeds. Those trucks can stop amazingly quick if they have to.
If he saw her stop, he had time to stop. He may have been distracted, checking his rear view, watching ambulance, hard to say.

I think the "left lane" has absolutely nothing to do with what happened.

 

[Buggle]

Most police escorts I know of drive in front of what they are escorting.

It appears siren, or no siren, escort or no escort, they need to stop if they are going to the run a red light.
The OP's wife decided, in the moment to stop at the green light (at her option), but in my opinion she didn't do it safely.

That truck, in my opinion was not that close for those speeds. Those trucks can stop amazingly quick if they have to.
If he saw her stop, he had time to stop. He may have been distracted, checking his rear view, watching ambulance, hard to say.

I think the "left lane" has absolutely nothing to do with what happened.

So... you're claiming the police car was there for scenery lol? Let's not muddle things up pls.

Also, the left lane thing is much stronger in Canada than it is in America. It's usage varies widely in America depending on the state.

 

[mswlogo]

So... you're claiming the police car was there for scenery lol? Let's not muddle things up pls.

Also, the left lane thing is much stronger in Canada than it is in America. It's usage varies widely in America depending on the state.

The “escort” (which you have no idea was actually escorting) was completely out of view to the OP’s wife and the truck. Even if it was leading (escorting), it changes nothing. She should not have stopped. I know that’s easy to say in hind sight. I’m not saying nobody else would make that wrong call (to many negatives ). But she shouldn’t have stopped. I might have made the same mistake. Instinct is to stop and let the emergency vehicle through. But she misjudged her good intentions.

 

[Darscot]

Maybe you missed the empty part. It was an empty dump truck. It weighs only about five Model Xs — less than a city bus. We're not talking about a fully-loaded semi here.

How do we know it was empty, because the cover was open? People can’t seem to be able to differentiate assumption and fact. I didn’t realize buses can stop on a dime and are so nimble they just swerve through hazards.

 

[Buggle]

The “escort” (which you have no idea was actually escorting) was completely out of view to the OP’s wife and the truck. Even if it was leading (escorting), it changes nothing. She should not have stopped. I know that’s easy to say in hind sight. I’m not saying nobody else would make that wrong call (to many negatives ). But she shouldn’t have stopped. I might have made the same mistake. Instinct is to stop and let the emergency vehicle through. But she misjudged her good intentions.

If it changes nothing then why did you challenge the fact? Your logic is specious. And for the record, my sister is a paramedic in Toronto, and I can confirm to you that at various times police escorts can in fact be ahead, behind, or both. Additionally, it did not stop at the scene of a major accident. Based on all this, I find it highly likely the police car was in fact, escorting the ambulance, and I find it a bit bizarre you're challenging this fact.

 

[Rogstar]

Sorry for the unfortunate event. I hope she's okay.

Rule number 1 when dealing with emergency vehicles - pull over to the right if possible.

Looks like she slammed the brakes (2:25) on a tailgating truck driver. Murphy's law, be in the position for something to happen - it will happen.

THE one class of driver that must "drive defensively"?
Truck driver?
Too fast, too close.
Always assume the vehicle in front may stop.

 

[mongo]

How do we know it was empty, because the cover was open? People can’t seem to be able to differentiate assumption and fact. I didn’t realize buses can stop on a dime and are so nimble they just swerve through hazards.

If it was loaded, then it was in violation by not having a covered load.
As for stopping distance:
Impact:

Full stop (it is practically stopped earlier, but still rolling slightly).

Class B dump truck axle length is 20 feet. The cross street appears to be 2 lanes in each direction slightly divided. So call it 50 feet max. Therefore, the truck stopped in less than 50 feet, or about two truck lengths from impact.

I had missed it the first few times, but the was a vehicle in the right most lane that also stopped for the ambulance (showing situational awareness),so swerving (which was meant as an indication of reacting to the impending collision, not that dump truck slalom) was a good thing not to do.