A motorcyclist was killed Friday afternoon after colliding with a Tesla Cybertruck at the intersection of W. Orangethorpe Avenue and S. Gilbert Street in Fullerton. The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. The rider, described by police as a man on a brown Honda Navi, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
What the police say
According to a news release from the Fullerton Police Department, the preliminary investigation indicates the motorcyclist was traveling eastbound in the No. 2 lane of W. Orangethorpe Avenue when a Tesla Cybertruck heading westbound turned south onto S. Gilbert Street. The motorcycle then struck the side of the Cybertruck. Police said the case remains active while investigators work to determine whether drugs or alcohol were factors. Anyone with information is asked to contact Accident Investigator J. Munoz at 714-738-6812, as reported by CBS Los Angeles.
Orangethorpe has seen other high-profile Tesla crashes
The same stretch of Orangethorpe has been the scene of other serious Tesla collisions in recent years, stoking local concerns about intersection safety and speeds. In April 2025, a Tesla ran a red light on Orangethorpe and crashed into a pickup truck and an Orange County Transportation Authority bus, killing two people, according to the Los Angeles Times. And in June 2024, a Tesla struck a parked police vehicle that was protecting the scene of an earlier crash after the driver told officers he had engaged a “self-drive” mode, per an Associated Press report.
What’s next
Fullerton police said the investigation into Friday’s collision is ongoing and that the Orange County coroner will release the rider’s identity after next-of-kin notification, according to CBS Los Angeles. No arrests or charges have been announced. Authorities urged anyone with dash-cam or cellphone footage from the area to contact investigators. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
