Tesla Bursts Into Flames After Crashing Into Tree, Injuring MD Man

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A Maryland man's Tesla crashed into a tree Friday in Virginia and burst into flames. A state police officer who happened to be driving by at the time of the crash helped save the man's life.

The incident unfolded Dec. 5 around 7 a.m. on Interstate 95 northbound in Caroline County, Virginia, when a 2024 Tesla Model Y driven by Foday Kanu, 34, of Upper Marlboro, left the road and hit a tree.

Virginia State Police Sergeant S. Page was driving along Interstate 95 northbound at the 111-mile marker and stopped to check on Kanu just as the Tesla caught fire.

"Something told me to go northbound … (when) driving northbound, I happened to look over to my left and saw the Tesla had ran off the road," Page said in an interview.

The Tesla’s doors were locked and would not open, however, the VSP reported. Page broke the Tesla's window, cut the airbag and pulled Kanu out of the vehicle. Page then scanned the car for any other people inside, but there weren't any, VSP stated.

"I heard a guy in the car and ended up having to bust the window out and asked him to sit back a little bit so I could cut the airbag and pulled him out of the car. I dragged him back about 10 feet from the car until others could come help," Page said.

In the official dashcam video of the incident, the Tesla can be seen sparking and the fire quickly advancing. Good Samaritans who stopped to help the trooper sprint away from the car once it started sparking.

Kanu suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

The Virginia State Police suspects winter weather driving conditions as the possible cause for the crash, authorities stated. Officials continue to investigate the crash.