ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is disputing claims circulating on social media that deputies were pursuing a Tesla before a fatal crash Wednesday evening, saying the vehicle crashed before a traffic stop could be initiated.
According to the sheriff’s office, the incident began just before 7:30 p.m. on July 8 when a deputy stopped at the Circle K gas station at State Road 16 and Masters Drive. A business employee alerted the deputy to a suspicious person inside a black Tesla.
As the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver sped out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed. The deputy immediately broadcast information about the reckless driver to nearby law enforcement units.
Investigators said the Tesla continued eastbound on State Road 16, where it struck a person riding a motorized scooter. The driver did not stop and continued toward the intersection of State Road 16 and U.S. Highway 1.
A second deputy spotted the Tesla and activated emergency lights while making a U-turn near the railroad tracks, according to the sheriff’s office. Before the deputy could initiate a traffic stop, the Tesla struck a utility pole, crossed all lanes of U.S. 1, entered the parking lot of the Flagler Inn and overturned.
Deputies responded immediately because they had already been alerted to the reckless driver.
Video Released by SJCSO
The rider of the motorized scooter was pronounced dead at the scene. The Tesla driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that deputies were not pursuing the Tesla at any point during the incident and said the sequence of events was captured on a deputy’s dashboard camera.
The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the fatal crash. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said it delayed releasing certain details to avoid compromising the investigation and noted that additional information will be released by the Florida Highway Patrol as the investigation continues.