2 Dead When Tesla Runs Red Light; Crashes Into OCTA Bus: Police

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Two people died Saturday when a Tesla ran a red light in Orange County and crashed into a pick-up truck and OCTA bus, authorities said.

The crash was reported on Saturday at 6:48 a.m. in Fullerton, when Fullerton Police officers were dispatched to E. Orangethorpe Avenue and S. State College Boulevard.

Upon arriving, officers found a gray 1991 Toyota pick-up with moderate passenger-side damage, a white 2018 Tesla Model 3 with "significant" front-end damage and an OCTA bus with moderate driver-side damage — all in or near the intersection.

An adult woman who was riding in the Tesla was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Her identity was not immediately released.

The driver of the Tesla — an adult man —was taken to a local trauma center for treatment, police said. However, shortly after arriving to the hospital, the man was pronounced dead. His name was not released.

According to police, the white Tesla was traveling westbound on E. Orangethorpe Avenue when it drove through the intersection on a red light, striking the gray Toyota's passenger side and then crashing with the passenger side of the OCTA bus.

The driver of the Toyota Pick-up and the OCTA bus involved in the collision remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. Five passengers riding the OCTA bus were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.

It was not immediately known if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

Anyone with information regarding the crash was urged to call Fullerton Police Traffic Accident Investigator Feaster at (714) 738-6812 or via email at jfeaster@fullertonpd.org.