Tesla denies malfunction to blame for deadly crash caught on video in China

A file photo of a Tesla in China. The Nov 5 accident in Chaozhou in Guangdong province also injured three people, including the driver. Video circulated on Chinese social media showed a white Model Y speeding until finally crashing. — Reuters

Tesla Inc said it will assist a police investigation into a fatal crash involving a Model Y sports utility in China earlier this month, while suggesting the incident wasn’t caused by a malfunction.

Data taken from the car showed no proof the brake pedal had been applied before the crash, and video showed the brake lights remained off, the electric car maker said in a statement. Instead, the accelerator was heavily engaged in the lead up to the accident, which killed a motorcyclist and high-school student on a bicycle. Tesla said it will “actively provide any necessary aid” to the local police probe, which may involve a third-party investigator.