A motorist was killed when the driver’s vehicle slammed into a traffic pole in Torrance and erupted in flames, police said Wednesday.
Officers responded to the intersection of Madrona Avenue and Plaza Del Amo around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a severe single-vehicle traffic collision, according to the Torrance Police Department.
According to police, the driver of a 2025 Tesla Model Y heading south on Madrona veered off the road and hit a traffic pole.
“The vehicle was on fire, and an occupant was trapped inside,” police said in a statement.
“Officers made valiant efforts to gain access to the vehicle; however, due to the intensity of the flames and heat, they were unable to rescue the occupant.”
Torrance Fire Department personnel extinguished the fire, but their efforts were complicated by challenges attributed to the vehicle’s lithium-ion batteries, police said.
The motorist’s name was being withheld pending notification of relatives.
Anyone with additional information regarding the fatal collision was urged to contact the Torrance Police Department Traffic Division at 310-618-5557.