Married couple are killed in first known deadly crash involving Elon Musk’s new Tesla semi-truck
A married couple in Nevada died in an accident involving a new Tesla truck.
Sergio and Jennifer Villanueva were killed in a crash early Sunday morning at a highway interchange in the city of Dayton, about 40 miles east of Reno, according to local officials and family members.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department said preliminary reports suggest the semi-truck driver may have fallen asleep.
Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Officer James LaRose said a 10-ton Tesla truck crashed into Villanueva’s Volkswagen Beetle around 7:20 a.m. Forbes.
The Beetle’s occupants were not named in initial reports, but local news and family members shared their identities on Facebook.
A second passenger vehicle was also struck and another person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s department said.
The Highway Patrol said two people were pronounced dead at the scene. The Daily Mail has reached out to the ministry for an update.
The tragic accident was the first accident involving Tesla’s new electric semi-truck. The model has officially been on the roads since March.
Jennifer and Sergio Villanueva were identified as the first known victims of the crash involving Tesla’s new truck.
The model was launched earlier this year as a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to other semi-trucks. DHL and Pepsi were among the pilot companies that purchased truck fleets
The Villanuevas were car enthusiasts and members of a car club in Nevada. They were driving an old Volkswagen Beetle
Tesla first announced plans for a battery-powered semi-truck a decade ago, but a series of delays and refocuses kept it from hitting the road.
Jennifer Bauer, a friend of the couple, told the local ABC affiliate: KOLO The Villaneuvas volunteered for a local animal rescue, he said.
“They would take the shirt off their back and there was nothing they wouldn’t do for anyone,” Bauer said. He added that the couple had ‘hearts of gold’ and were a ‘positive light’.
Villanueva leaves behind his son Sergio IV, who is currently attending college in Ohio. Son’s mother took action GoFundMe to raise money to bring him home to mourn with his family.
‘No amount can replace the love, guidance and memories of a father, but your generosity can help relieve some of the financial stress so Sergio can focus on being with his family and honoring his father’s memory,’ the statement said.
The couple, who got married in 2022, were car enthusiasts. Car club Untouchable Image CC announced earlier this week.
Untouchable Image, ‘We lost two family members due to a devastating crash on Hwy 50 this morning. “Sergio Villanueva and Jennifer Villanueva were both dear friends, family and club members,” he said.
‘They will be missed and mourned by everyone who was lucky enough to know them. ‘They were some of the most wonderful people and they were separated from their loved ones too soon.’
Sergio leaves behind his son, Sergio IV, who is a college student in Ohio. A GoFundMe has been started to raise money for Serigo IV
The pair were local volunteers and were described by friends as ‘people who would take the shirt off their back’.
The identity of the driver was not released and authorities did not say whether charges would be filed.
Tesla boasted about its new semi truck. The company says the model charges four times faster than other electric trucks and costs $100,000 less.
DHL and Pepsi were among the pilot companies to begin operating a modest fleet of Tesla Semis as part of ongoing initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.
The Daily Mail has contacted Tesla and a relative of the Villanuevas for additional comment.
