Canada

‘It’s fully in a living space’: Tesla crashes into Toronto townhouse

By Gabby Rodrigues Global News Posted January 5, 2024 7:08 am Updated January 5, 2024 10:30 am

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A Tesla crashes into a townhouse in Toronto. Don Curran / Global News

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Toronto Fire says there is significant damage to a townhouse in North York after a Tesla crashed into it on Thursday night.

Crews were called to a townhouse on Parkway Forest Drive, near Highway 404 and Sheppard Avenue, just before midnight.

Paramedics told Global News a total of five people were taken to hospital. Four people were sent to a local hospital with minor injuries while one was taken to a trauma centre in serious condition.

Toronto Fire District Chief Peter Rappos said in an update on Friday morning that three people have been released from hospital. He said of the five people taken to hospital, three people were inside of the Tesla and two people were inside the home on the lower level.

Investigators said there is significant damage to the townhouse and the vehicle. As of Rappos’ update just before 10 a.m., the Tesla was still well lodged inside of the home.

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“It is fully in a living space, yes, you would consider that to be in a garage almost at this point,” Rappos told reporters, adding it was the living, dining and kitchen area of the complex that was struck.

Rappos said crews are waiting for building and structural engineers to arrive at the scene in order to determine if it’s safe to pull the vehicle out.

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“Firstly, it’s the structural damage,” Rappos said. “We don’t want to cause any further damage to the building on it collapsing, and due to the fact that it is a Tesla, we don’t know if there’s been any damage to the battery pack below because we’re not able to get in and get a look at it.”

Residents were asked to evacuate the building but were let back in a couple of hours later, just before 2 a.m., police said.

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The gas line was also damaged, Rappos said, but did not have a timeline on when it would be turned on again.

There is no word on how the car crashed into the townhouse.