2 teens dead after Tesla crashes into wall in Fort Lauderdale

Third teen seriously hurt after being thrown from car, police say

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Two teenage boys were killed and another was seriously hurt after a car crashed into a wall Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale.

Tracy Figone, a spokeswoman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said the Tesla Model S burst into flames about 7 p.m. after the crash along the 1300 block of Seabreeze Boulevard. 

According to a witness, who did not want to be identified, the car was speeding southbound on Seabreeze Boulevard when it crashed and spun out of control. 

"They were still moving, but we couldn't get them out because the fire was too intense," a man who tried to help told Local 10 News.

Two men, both 18, were trapped inside the car and died when it became engulfed in flames, Figone said.

One of the teens was thrown from the car and was rushed to a local hospital, Figone said. His condition was not disclosed.

Seabreeze Boulevard was shut down from the 17th Street Bridge to Harbor Drive for several hours as police investigated the crash.

Local 10 News has learned another car full of friends was following the Tesla, and they saw the fiery wreck.

"They're supposed to graduate high school next week, and it just breaks my heart ... what these parents, they got the worst call of their life, and their lives are never going to be the same," witness Wendy Mascolo said.


About the Authors:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.