Tesla driver blames fatal crash on new-car smell

"jovimon7" (jovimon7) 02/08/2014 at 08:55 • Filed to: Tesla

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The distinctive scent of off-gassing plastic inside a new car can cause headaches, nausea and annoyance.

But a car crash?

A Santa Cruz resident has blamed the new-car smell of his Tesla Motors Model S for an accident that claimed the life of a bicyclist, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

According to police, Navindra Kumar Jain !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and struck a UC Santa Cruz librarian biking on Highway 1. Santa Cruz County prosecutors announced Wednesday that they would charge Jain with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

The Sentinel quotes the accident report from the California Highway Patrol:

According to the initial CHP report on the crash, Jain bought the car new about 10 days before the crash. He told officers that the car had a strong, new-car smell that prompted him to use a baking soda car freshener in it. Jain told authorities that the smell caused him to fall asleep and there were no mechanical problems with the car…

The claim drew disbelief and scorn from Model S owners online. The family of the librarian, Joshua Alper, named Tesla in a lawsuit filed against Jain, according to the Sentinel.

– David R. Baker

ihm96 > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 08:58

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So wouldn't the new car smell be gone after he cleaned it? This is ridiculous. Plus, who doesn't enjoy that new car smell

jovimon7 > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 09:00

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Kumar?, he and Harold were on their way to White Castle, that smell was a doobie,.

Enginerrrrrrrrr > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 09:04

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Made him fall asleep? If anything I would expect him to get a headache... which would make him more awake.

This sounds like he just doesn't want to take responsibility.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 09:10

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Two things. First, how do you kill somebody and it be a misdemeanor? Second, does anyone actually believe this clown?

PRBot II > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 09:12

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Obviously this guy is full of shit.

But if it were true, then he's still guilty. He said he treated it with baking soda as a preventative measure, indicating he knew there was a problem ahead of time. Then chose to drive the flawed vehicle anyway. Lock him up.

KnifeKnut > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 09:21

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So roll down the windows dipshit!

awe46m3zcp > jovimon7 02/08/2014 at 13:04

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Surely he wasnt too tired to be operating a motor vehicle or 4000lb missle?