Another Tesla owner is claiming brake failure after his Model 3 went airborne and crashed into the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The incident actually occurred last week on May 4, but footage from nearby surveillance cameras was only released yesterday showing the severity of the crash.
According to the police report, the owner said he was travelling along State Route 315 when his brakes stopped working. He said he then exited off the highway and maintained his speed at around 70mph (112km/h) on Vine Street, where the speed limit is 30mph (48km/h).
Witnesses said however it appeared the driver sped up to beat a red light moments before the crash.
Despite local media reports claiming it was a 2020 Model S, the footage clearly shows the Model 3 then hitting a curb and demolishing a planter before flying through the air and into the convention center. Once inside the Model 3 hits a steel support beam, bringing it quickly to a halt.
Miraculously the driver escaped with only minor injuries, a testament to Tesla’s impressive safety record. The driver was cited by police for failure to control, and sent to hospital as a precautionary measure given the severity of the accident.
After being contacted by the Columbus Division of Police, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) decided not to investigate the accident and whether Autopilot was involved.
Like other incidents where owners have shouted “brake failure,” this one will likely be proven to be a case of the accelerator being mistaken for the brakes. Just this week an owner in China was forced to apologize after fabricating facts when he claimed his Tesla Model 3 had a brake failure in 2020.
Tesla has been quite focused on fighting claims of brake failure in China, suing multiple owners to set the record straight. It is especially difficult to claim brake failure when Tesla’s onboard computers record everything that is going on inside the car, including how much pressure is applied to the brakes.
You can watch the video below.
