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Tesla owner evades tragedy after Model 3 gets hit by 37-pound boulder

[Credit: Ryan Nisle/Facebook]

Published

6 years ago

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When Tesla Model 3 owner Jade Insko left his home this past Monday, he thought his drive heading to his workplace would be just like any other. As Insko drove east on Highway 14 near Cape Horn, WA, though, a freak accident happened. Out of the blue, a 37-pound boulder crashed into his electric car. The impact was massive, shattering a large part of the Model 3’s windshield. The rock also bent the steering column, split the dash, and moved the practically immovable 15″ center touchscreen before landing in the passenger seat.

“All of a sudden, my car just seemed to explode as this 37-pound rock flew through the windshield, smashed into the dashboard, and bounced directly into the passenger seat,” the Model 3 owner said.

Relating his story to a local news outlet, the Model 3 owner stated that it took him a second before he could process the freak accident. Fortunately, his Model 3, bent steering column and split dashboard and all, was still able to move. Insko was eventually able to pull over to the side of the road, despite being unable to see due to glass in his eyes and face. 

Jade Insko’s Tesla Model 3 after the accident. [Credit: Ryan Nisle/Facebook]

“I just pulled forward slowly with my hazards on. I couldn’t see anything, I had glass in my face and eyes and a giant hole in my windshield,” he said.

Insko was alone in his vehicle, and fortunately enough, he was largely unharmed. He had some minor injuries due to glass from the shattered windshield, but other than that, Insko was fine. His prized Model 3, though, was extensively damaged. Apart from the main impact from the 37-pound boulder, the Model 3’s front end was also damaged due to other rocks on the road, which the car hit while it was pulling over. In a later statement to KGW8 News, Insko noted that he and his family were shaken by the experience.

“I have a wife and two young children, (ages) 7 and 8, and it hit them hard as well. Knowing that could have been, in an instant, the end,” he said.

Jade Insko’s Tesla Model 3 after the accident. [Credit: Ryan Nisle/Facebook]

While the freak accident could have ended on a tragic note, Insko has nonetheless adopted a rather positive take on the incident. After the crash, the Model 3 owner decided to keep the boulder that hit his car. He plans to keep it in his yard as a monument and a reminder about how bad things could have been.

Tesla’s electric cars have a reputation for being some of the safest vehicles on the road. Thanks to their all-electric design, Tesla’s vehicles have large crumple zones and a low center of gravity. Just this past September, the Model 3 earned a stellar 5-Star Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In the days that followed the announcement, Tesla released a follow-up blog post stating that among the vehicles tested by the NHTSA, the Model 3 stands as the car that has the lowest probability of injury.  

Teslas have been involved in freak accidents in the past. Last September alone, a Model X owner from Texas was driving through Sugar Land when it was hit by an actual crashing airplane. The aircraft in the incident was owned by the DEA, and according to later reports, the crash was caused by a mechanical failure. The pilot was able to conduct an emergency landing on the road, but during the maneuver, the aircraft clipped several power lines and hit some vehicles, including the Model X. Thanks to the electric SUV’s durability, the Model X’s driver and his companion were able to escape from the accident unharmed.

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Simon is a reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday.

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Lifestyle

Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

Published

1 month ago

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January 31, 2025

By

Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.

If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.

FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:

  • But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
  • This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
  • As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
  • For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States. 

FSD user’s tale:

  • As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
  • During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
  • In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous. 
  • “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
  • “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Tesla Optimus “stars” in incredible fanmade action short film

Published

2 months ago

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January 14, 2025

By

Credit: @SoKrispyMedia/YouTube

There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products. 

The video: 

  • Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver. 
  • The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
  • While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
  • Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.

Cool inside jokes: 

  • The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it. 
  • From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
  • The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
  • The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.

Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Tesla releases Cybertruck metal key card—because why not?

Published

2 months ago

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December 31, 2024

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Credit: Tesla Shop

Tesla definitely seems to be determined to release the coolest lineup of accessories for its coolest vehicle. As could be seen in an update to the Tesla Shop, the electric vehicle maker has now launched a metal key card for the Cybertruck—because why not?

Cybertruck keys:

  • The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card. 
  • The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key. 
  • As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.

The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:

  • Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
  • As per Tesla’s description of the item: 
  • “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
  • The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
  • In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
  • The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.

Tesla Cybertruck merch push:

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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