Tesla crash sparks fire in Westchester County, 2 dead – NBC New York

Two people died when an out-of-control vehicle struck a curb and then a tree, crashed into the facade of a residential building and exploded in Westchester County on Monday, authorities said.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene of the accident on Battle Avenue at 9:10 a.m. to find the vehicle completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters immediately rushed to help put out the flames. The building also caught fire. Some residents on the second floor of the building ran out when they heard the sound of the explosion.

“[Firefighters] made the quick and smart decision to leave the building. So they tied it to a patrol car,” said David Chong, White Plains Public Safety Commissioner.

A woman who lives on the first floor of the building said she was lucky that her son was not at home at the time.

“I'm glad no one was in the apartment. My son is fine, he's in college. I have to tell him the news tonight,” said Zaneta Williams. “His room isn't here right now, but we're going to rebuild it.”

The vehicle was believed to be an electric Tesla. How it worked is under investigation, but police believe the driver lost control at some point on Battle Avenue.

“We're trying to figure out what happened here – whether it was a mechanical problem or a personal, medical problem or something like that,” Chong said.

After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of two Hartsdale women were found inside the vehicle. Both were “badly burned,” according to Chong. The driver was later identified as 70-year-old Millie Sheehan, while the passenger was 36-year-old Diana Sheehan.

Apparently, the two women had just dropped off some children at a nearby daycare center before the accident.

Two other people in the building were also injured but are expected to recover. A third person was hit by shrapnel from the car explosion and is currently recovering in hospital.

Helicopter 4 was above the accident scene as emergency crews used a bulldozer to clear away the charred remains of the vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing.