Man in Pleasanton dies in fiery Tesla crash

The intersection of West Las Positas Boulevard and Hacienda Drive in Pleasanton where the fatal crash occurred. The intersection of West Las Positas Boulevard and Hacienda Drive in Pleasanton where the fatal crash occurred. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close Man in Pleasanton dies in fiery Tesla crash 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

A man was killed after his speeding Tesla crashed and became engulfed in flames at the intersection of West Las Positas Boulevard and Hacienda Drive in Pleasanton, police say.

The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Police said the unidentified driver was headed southbound on Hacienda Drive before eventually losing control at the intersection. As his Tesla Model S barreled down the road, police told ABC7 he razed a stoplight before colliding into a sign and cement wall outside of a nearby apartment complex.

No one else was in the vehicle at the time of the crash, nor has it yet been determined whether drugs or alcohol were involved. The road was closed for hours as police continued their investigation.

MORE: U.S. agency examining Tesla unintended acceleration complaint

As with most Tesla crashes, this accident will likely see higher levels of scrutiny from the public than a crash involving another car company.

Less than a week ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation of an estimated 500,000 Tesla vehicles — among them the Model S, as well as the Model X and Model 3 — following complaints of an alleged defect that caused the cars to suddenly accelerate. The reports tallied 110 crashes and 52 injuries in 2013-2019.

Last February, a similar fiery crash ensued when the “auto-present” car door handles of a man’s Model S failed to retract, preventing him from escaping to safety after the car struck a palm tree. In January 2018, The National Transportation Safety Board found that another driver was relying too heavily on his Tesla's semiautonomous driving feature after he unintentionally sideswiped a fire truck parked on the side of a freeway in Culver City.

Tesla has not commented on the incident.

Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett