A third Tesla Model S car to go up in flames in a span of only five weeks has some U.S. regulators calling for an inquiry and examination of the electric cars.
The most recent fire occurred when a Model S drove over a tow hitch lying on the Interstate 24 in Tennessee, which caused the car to catch fire, Bloomberg reports. The driver pulled over and did not suffer any injuries.
Executive Director Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety says that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "absolutely has to investigate."
The NHTSA did not investigate when a Model S caught fire in Washington after metal debris struck the undercarriage of the car, similar to the Tenn. incident. "It appears there's inadequate shielding on the bottom of these vehicles," Ditlow commented. "Road debris is a known hazard to the undercarriage of vehicles."
According to CNBC, Tesla said it was looking into the accident. "Our team is on its way to Tennessee to learn more about what happened in the accident," Tesla spokesperson Liz Jarvis-Shean said. "We will provide more information when we're able to do so."
Stock prices for Tesla have fallen since the luxury electric car company reported disappointing Q3 delivery numbers. Shares were down 10 percent to under $140.
image: Wikimedia Commons
