Two killed after out of control Tesla speeds through streets before crashing

The electric car manufacturer, owned by Elon Musk, denied responsibility for the event but said it would ‘actively provide any necessary aid’ to assist police with their investigation into the crash.

Terrifying CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred last week in Guangdong, China, shows the driver attempting to park the car after they pulled over to the side of the road.

The car can be seen suddenly turning back out onto the road before zooming off at a high speed down a series of cramped narrow streets.

A scooter and an oncoming cyclist were hit before the car crashed head-first into an approaching vehicle and smashed into a nearby shop.

The family of the driver told local outlets that the 55-year-old man lost control of the car and that it would not respond when he stepped on the brake pedal. 

Police have also confirmed that the driver of the vehicle, who is believed to work as a truck driver, was not under the influence of drink or drugs at the time of the crash.

In an interview with Chinese media, the driver, identified by his surname Zhan, said: ‘I felt the car was malfunctioning, so I pressed the park button, but it began to accelerate,’ Newsweek reports.

‘Suddenly, I was racing ahead, and I tried the brakes repeatedly. There were others on the road. A motorcycle was ahead of me, so I swerved the steering wheel.

‘Because I was a truck driver, I knew what to do if my brakes ever failed on a slope, so after I lost control of the car, I immediately began searching for an obstacle to crash into,’ he said.

‘I continued to try the brakes to see whether they would start working and stop the car.

‘I was thinking about where to crash, but my reactions couldn’t keep up with the speed.’

Mr Zhan said he felt movement in the brake pedal but it did not respond when he pressed down on it fully. He added that he never touched the throttle or attempted to accelerate during the incident.

Tesla has since contradicted Mr Zhan’s version of events. In statements to the Chinese press, the carmaker said surveillance footage showed the vehicle’s brake lights remained off and that no attempts had been made by Zhan to step on the brakes, which it said was ‘consistent with backend data.’

‘The vehicle’s electronic throttle was depressed deeply for long periods and held at 100% for a time,’ Tesla said. 

‘There was no braking action during the whole process.

‘Please also do not listen to rumours, and do not spread unconfirmed information.’

It is not the first time Tesla has faced claims of its hardware being at fault for crashes, with its advanced driver assistance systems like autopilot being suspected of causing over 37 collisions and 17 deaths since 2016.