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FHP: Tesla going at 'careless or negligent manner' at 'high rate of speed'

State agency release crash report that killed 4
Deadly crash in Martin County, Oct. 18, 2022
Posted at 10:53 PM, Nov 01, 2022
and last updated 2022-11-02 07:40:16-04

STUART, Fla. — The teenage driver of the Tesla involved in the quadruple fatal crash on Oct. 18 was going at a "careless or negligent manner" and driving at a "high rate of speed" when the vehicle collided with a Chrysler minivan along U.S. Highway 1 and Baker Road, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

WPTV obtained a copy of the crash report Tuesday.

George Meyer III, 18, of Port St. Lucie, listed as the driver of the Tesla, was pronounced dead, along with passenger Emma Albritton, 19, of Fort Pierce.

The two people in the other vehicle, Thomas Trowbridge, 70, and his wife, Deborah Trowbridge, 73, both of Stuart, also died.

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According to the crash report, the Tesla was going south in the outside lane on U.S Highway 1, approaching the intersection of 14th Street.

The minivan was traveling northbound in the inside left turn lane on U.S. Highway 1, approaching a solid green traffic control device at the intersection of 14th Street. This vehicle slowed down to clear the intersection.

The Tesla had a solid green traffic control signal, according to the FHP.

The minivan began making the left turn onto 14th Street. The Tesla driver continued traveling south at a high rate of speed in the outside lane of U.S. Highway 1 and entered into the path of the other vehicles, according to the report.

As a result, the front of the Tesla impacted the right front of the minivan.

After the impact, the Tesla rotated counterclockwise, striking a utility pole, and overturned. The car then caught on fire.

The fatal crash shut down both directions of Federal Highway for about six hours.