Tesla Kills Man After Running Red Light In San Francisco

The Tesla Model 3 on display in Los Angeles, California. The popular Model 3s have driven more than 1 billion electric miles in record time. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

A speeding Tesla killed a man crossing a pedestrian lane with his wife at a San Francisco street Sunday afternoon. The impact severely injured the man's wife, who is now in critical condition at a local hospital.

The couple, who are from the Fresno suburb of Clovis, were struck by the out-of-control Tesla driven by a woman near Union Square, said the San Francisco Police Department. Police said video surveillance confirms the Tesla ran a red light at Taylor Street and O'Farrell, it rammed a Mini Copper before hitting the husband and wife at the pedestrian lane as they crossed the road.

The Tesla then smashed into an unattended, parked vehicle and landed on top of the sidewalk, said SFPD police sergeant Frank Harrell. Police said they now have a memory chip from the Tesla and hope data from the chip can help them learn more about the horrific accident.

The fatal accident took place at around 2:30 p.m. Neither the driver of the Tesla or the Mini Cooper was injured.

Witnesses told SFPD the Tesla was speeding when it ran the red light while heading northbound on Taylor.

SFPD said the woman driver of the Tesla was driving up Taylor at 15 to 20 mph above the posted speed limit, according to the ABC7 TV station.

SFPD says the driver of this Tesla ran a red light at O’Farrell @2pm. @SFPD says she was driving up Taylor 15-20MPH above the posted speed limit. Tesla hit the mini, then a couple in the crosswalk, then a parked SUV. Man was killed and his wife is critical - visiting from Clovis. pic.twitter.com/qLBx4LZSrP
— Kate L (@katelstories) July 22, 2019

Police told media the driver of the Tesla lives in San Francisco and was renting the Tesla. She wasn’t hurt and was interviewed near the scene by police.

It isn’t known if the woman driver of the Tesla had her Autopilot engaged at the time of the accident. If she did, this accident will be the third involving a Tesla killing a pedestrian, according to government records.