--- title: "Watch a Tesla Model 3 Explode on the Side of a Russian Highway" description: "A Tesla Model 3 exploded into flames on the side of Moscow's Ring Road highway after colliding with a stationary tow truck." date: "2019-08-12" modified: "2019-08-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-model-3-explode-russia" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "collision" - "Model 3" - "Russia" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Watch a Tesla Model 3 Explode on the Side of a Russian Highway ![A Tesla Model 3 exploded into flames on the side of Moscow's Ring Road highway after colliding with a stationary tow truck.]() *\Image: gagorun via YouTube\* ## Model 3 Explosion [Videos]() on social media over the weekend show a Tesla Model 3 exploding into flames on the side of Moscow's Ring Road highway after colliding with a stationary tow truck. The vehicle belonged to Aleksey Tretyakov, who got away with a broken nose and leg, [according to *Reuters*](). His children only suffered bruises. But the incident does shine yet another spotlight on Autopilot, an assisted-driving feature that was reportedly enabled during the accident. https://youtu.be/reTFVSlXTfA ## High Speed Crash The Model 3 reportedly plowed into a stationary tow truck late on Saturday while going around 100 km/h. Tretyakov [told local television network *REN TV*]() that Autopilot mode, Tesla's driving assistance feature, was on during the crash — but that he also had his hands on the steering wheel. The news comes after the family of Jeremy Beren Banner, a Model 3 owner who died when [he crashed]() into a tractor-trailer while [“Autopilot” mode]() was on, [decided to sue]() Tesla for wrongful death earlier this month. ## CCTV Footage [CCTV footage]() shows the vehicle's front left nose getting caught by the side of the tow truck. "Thanks for your note," said a Tesla spokesperson in response to a request for comment. "We don’t have any comment on this but ask that you reference the vehicle fire and accident data published on our website here," along with a link to [this page](). *Editor's note: this story has been updated with a response from Tesla.* **READ MORE:** [Tesla electric car catches fire after hitting tow truck in Moscow]() \[*Reuters*\] **More on Tesla accidents:** *[Tesla Slammed by Another Autopilot Crash Lawsuit]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()