Tesla Driver Uses Model S To Stop Runaway Car

A German Tesla model S owner recently did the right thing and sacrificed his vehicle to slow down a vehicle which had an unconscious man at the wheel, a German newspaper reported yesterday. A 47-year-old man was driving a VW Passat on the German A9 Autobahn, close to Munich, lost consciousness and control of his vehicle hitting the central guardrail multiple times before still carrying on at speed.

The heroic Tesla driver, Manfred Kicks quickly spotted what was going on with the VW driver, then pulled in front of the vehicle eventually slowing it down to a complete stop. Police and fire crew arrived on the scene and took the VW driver to hospital. His current condition is possibly stable, but it is suspected that he may have suffered a stroke which caused his unconsciousness. 'The driver had tipped forward and hung motionless in the belt. The head and hands hung limply down,' stated Kicks.

The damage to the VW was just its front bumper and the complete rear bumper section of the Tesla. This is especially noteworthy for the Tesla driver having such an expensive aluminum body to the vehicle usually means they avoid any ding or similar at all costs, but this scenario shows at least one Tesla driver putting the safety of others above everything else.

It's also more noteworthy to know that the instant torque and traction of the Tesla was put to good use and was more than capable of slowing down and stopping another vehicle. Eco-friendly and safety conscious may now be the running slogans for Tesla.

Back in 2013 the Tesla Model S achieved a 5-star safety rating score by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in every subcategory. The car also set a new record for the lowest likelihood of injury. With the lack of a large gasoline engine block there is a much longer crumple zone to absorb high impact clashes and with the lack of a gas tank, this incident clearly shows that a rear end collision can be taken in relative safety.

The testing also pointed out the results of a rear crash where Tesla can install a double bumper if a third row seat is ordered. This protects against high-speed impacts in the rear with no injury to the third row passengers.

Image source: tz.de