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Crushed Tesla Model S Allegedly Saved Woman and Child, Proves the EV's Safety

Rarely do you get to see if the crash test results carmakers brag about rise to the customers' expectations in the real world. Fortunately, this is one of those moments. It appears that a mother and her daughter were driving in their Tesla Model S on the edge of the road on a cliff above a lake when they were hit by a landslide and a huge tree fell on top of the car. Here’s what happened next.
Tesla Model S involved in a landslide in Norway 12 photos
Photo: Grønvolds Bil-Demontering AS
Tesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in NorwayTesla Model S crushed by a tree in a landslide accident in Norway
Before anything else, we’d like to warn you this accident most likely has nothing to do with the newly released Autopilot software. Yes, we are aware of how videos with Tesla Model S drivers using the software turned viral, and we also know about the ignorant motorists who sometimes even risk their lives using the new feature.

Nevertheless, as far as we are aware, it is not the case this time. The pictures you see here belong to one of Norway’s leading companies specialized in used original parts for newer cars. In other words, we’re looking at a scrap yard where they are pulling out of wrecked cars what’s still worth selling before turning the car into junks of metal. This tells us that the Tesla Model S was totaled and sent to the green auto-heaven.

However, if we were to take the word of the Tesla Motors Club’s member who posted these pictures, there were a woman and a child in the car when the accident happened, and they were saved.

“If that were any other car, first the tree would have crushed them (remember, the Model S broke the NHSTA crush-test machine because it can withstand a massive crush load), and likely the landslide would have pushed any other car off the road. That looks like a huge cliff over a lake,” said one of the Club’s senior members.

Whether or not the premium electric sedan truly is as safe as they said has been discussed on numerous occasions, especially since the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the Model S scored a perfect 5.0 in the institution’s automobile safety rating. If this Model S really suffered such an accident and yet protected its passengers, then it could make for a good example of the vehicle's safety construction.

What exactly are we looking at, though? Well, the front frunk (which is how Tesla drivers call the trunk) hood was crumpled, the front fascia was ripped away from the car, and the front fenders were also quite shaken. Things look quite bad in the back too, as the entire section was deformed. Obviously, what truly stands out is the roof which looks almost intact.
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