A quiet evening of kids playing on a Lutz cul-de-sac turned serious Friday night when a Tesla hit a 7-year-old boy riding a seated Razor scooter, sending him to the hospital with significant injuries, according to authorities.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 8:15 p.m. on Cloudless Bliss Drive, where several children were outside while parents watched nearby. Troopers say a 45-year-old Riverview man was behind the wheel of a Tesla Model 3 when the car struck the child. The boy suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Investigators say the driver stayed at the scene, and charges are pending as troopers work through what happened. They also told reporters that Tesla’s Autopilot feature was not engaged at the time of the collision, and the agency released photos from the scene, as reported by 10 Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Tesla Wrecks Under the Microscope
This Lutz crash landed just days after another high-profile Tesla collision in the Tampa Bay area, one that left an elderly driver dead and renewed scrutiny of the company’s driver-assist technology. In that Pasco County case, troopers are investigating whether Autopilot played a role when a Tesla left a Wesley Chapel roadway and plunged into a pond, killing the driver.
Troopers Weigh Possible Charges
For now, the Florida Highway Patrol is focused on reconstructing the Lutz crash, reviewing evidence from the Tesla and from the scene to determine exactly how things unfolded and whether criminal charges are warranted. Officials have not released further information about the boy’s condition, beyond describing his injuries as serious, and said the investigation is still active, according to 10 Tampa Bay.
