Fiery Tesla Crash Shuts I-280 Near Daly City

A Tesla Model Y overturned and caught fire on northbound Interstate 280 in Daly City early Tuesday, closing lanes through the morning commute. (kron4.com) The crash happened just before 6 a.m. near Serramonte Center, according to the California Highway Patrol, and all northbound lanes were shut by 6:34 a.m. Two right lanes reopened around 8:40 a.m., and all lanes were back open by 10 a.m. (kron4.com) Authorities told local outlets the Model Y lost control, rolled over, and burst into flames near Hickey Boulevard. The driver got out of the vehicle and suffered minor injuries; reports differed on whether he was taken to a hospital for precautionary care. (abc7news.com, nbcbayarea.com) Fire crews said the blaze became a battery fire in “thermal runaway,” the chain reaction in a damaged lithium-ion battery pack that can keep feeding heat after a crash. North County Fire Captain Jeff Higgins said crews pulled back, protected nearby traffic lanes, and waited for the battery to burn down because water alone would not stop it. (abc7news.com, ktvu.com) That response helps explain why a single-vehicle crash closed a major Bay Area freeway for hours. NBC Bay Area reported the Hickey Boulevard on-ramp was shut, and southbound lanes were briefly stopped while crews worked around heavy smoke and flames. (nbcbayarea.com) The location also added to the backup. California Highway Patrol officials told ABC7 they have seen crashes in that stretch before during bad weather, and roads were wet Tuesday morning. (abc7news.com) Traffic problems spread beyond the burning car itself. NBC Bay Area reported a Waymo autonomous vehicle became stuck in the backup and CHP officers had to work with the company to move it off the freeway. (nbcbayarea.com) By late morning, the road was open again, but the crash left investigators sorting through the cause and commuters with hours of delay from a wreck that started before sunrise. (kron4.com, abc7news.com)