Canada witnessed a devastating incident when four Indian nationals were killed in a car accident in Canada’s heart of Downtown Toronto. The victims who died are all people who were originally from the state of Gujarat of India.
What actually happened
Four Indian nationals who lived in Toronto area were travelling in their brand new Tesla Model Y electric vehicle. The car was crashed into a guard rail and instantly burst into flames. The cause for the accident is not yet understood.
One of the Canada Post employee who was driving by aw the incident and heroically ran to act immediately. Due to this effort, one of the traveller was saved.
Ketaba Gohil aged 29, her brother Neelraj Gohil aged 25, and their friends Jayrajsingh Sisodia and Digvijay Patel were the people who died. The sole survivor of the crash was an another passenger aged 20.
Rick Harper, the Canada Post employee’s quick and immediate action was the only reason why the 20 year old woman was saved. He ran towards the crash, took an iron pole and smashed the glass as hard a he could. One of the window broke and he saved the girl. Due to the presence thick black smoke, neither Harper nor the survivor was able to see anything that was happening.
Cause of death of four Indians in Tesla car at Toronto
It might have been possible to save others if the Tesla car door was able to open. But it was jammed and the people was locked inside. revisiting the moment, Rick Harper said, “I couldn’t open the doors. I would assume the young lady tried to open the door from the inside, but she couldn’t get out.”. After breaking one of the window amidst thick black smoke and burning flames, he was only able to save the young lady, who apparently jumped and was dragged head-first through the window.
Big blow to Tesla cars
Since, the incident of Indians nationals’ death in a Tesla car in Toronto, the safety concerns regarding the Tesla cars are again being in the spotlight. The apparent reason for the death of four people is considered to be primarily because the car doors were automatic and jammed in the crash. There was no Manual way to open them. Without proper tools no one can open it from inside nor outside.
Tesla cars uses power dependent electric buttons in their electronic door mechanism instead of the conventional manual handles. When the car goes out of power or get’s into crash there is a possibility that the buttons won’t work. Even if they did, it is observed and criticised by experts before that, the button won’t be easy to find in a frenzy hurried moment. Though the Tesla Model Y has a manual override button, it is also considered to be inaccessible due to it’s location during such a difficult situation.
Captain Randy Schmitz of the Calgary Fire Department who investigated the crash site highlighted that the challenges in such scenarios are difficult. He said, “In a crash, power can fail, making it extremely difficult to unlock the doors.”
It is notable that, under The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are nine ongoing investigations involving the Tesla Model Y, mainly complaints against issues such as unexpected brake activation and sudden unintended acceleration causing difficulties to the users.
Authorities are still investigating the alleged reason behind the death – Whether the crash was the reason of the smoke inhalation or burn due to the jammed door was the main reason. Tesla company has not yet commented on the issues so far.
Electric Vehicles are becoming a growing concern when it comes to safety
Just like the crazy frenziness towards AI Automation and going completely electric, Electric vehicles are facing ad great challenge due to the lack of manual setup as the conventional cars have. This tragic incident have intensified the debates across the nation as well as on social platforms regarding this. Experts in the similar fields are encouraging the public to be aware of manual override methods and other safety measures while using an electric vehicle during a crash or an accident.
Improved design, more safety precautions and manual controls are becoming some of the emergent basic necessities for the future of EVs..
