Summary:

Fatal Tesla crash on the FDR Drive near 71st Street resulted in one death and one serious injury.
The Tesla was traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control and striking a guardrail.
The female driver was killed, and the male passenger was seriously injured and hospitalized.
The crash caused major traffic delays and road closures for several hours.
The incident highlights the dangers of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.

Fatal Tesla Crash on Upper East Side's FDR Drive

Early Tuesday morning, a speeding Tesla crashed on the FDR Drive near the 71st Street exit, resulting in a tragic accident. The impact caused the vehicle to burst into flames.

The incident:

A white Tesla traveling northbound at high speed lost control and struck a guardrail.
Both the driver and passenger were ejected from the vehicle.
The female driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 26-year-old male passenger suffered serious injuries and was transported to New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell Burn Unit where he was stabilized.

Aftermath:

The FDR Drive was closed for several hours, causing major traffic delays.
Witness accounts reported the Tesla traveling at extremely high speeds – estimates reaching 120-130 mph.
Firefighters faced challenges extinguishing the fire due to the Tesla's lithium-ion battery.

The dangers of lithium-ion batteries:

Officials highlighted the significant hazards posed by lithium-ion batteries in vehicles, emphasizing the intense heat and difficulty in extinguishing such fires.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Source: ABC7 New York