Three people were killed and a fourth suffered major injuries Saturday night after a Tesla left Serrano Parkway, struck a tree and became engulfed in flames in El Dorado Hills, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The deadly crash occurred at about 10:40 p.m. on westbound Serrano Parkway near Terracina Drive. When CHP officers and emergency crews arrived, they found a 2024 Tesla Model Y that had crashed into a tree along the north side of the roadway and was fully engulfed in flames.
A 30-year-old Sacramento man who was a passenger in the Tesla was ejected during the crash and died at the scene. The female driver and another female passenger were found dead inside the vehicle after firefighters extinguished the blaze.
A fourth occupant, identified by CHP as a 28-year-old Sacramento woman, was able to escape the vehicle with assistance from people who stopped at the scene. She suffered major injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The names of the three people who died had not been publicly released as of Monday. Authorities also had not released the ages or hometowns of the two women who died in the vehicle.
The crash prompted an extended closure of westbound Serrano Parkway as firefighters worked to extinguish the vehicle fire and CHP officers began investigating the collision. The roadway remained closed until approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Initial information released by the El Dorado Hills Fire Department described the vehicle as electric and indicated that damage to its lithium-ion battery resulted in the fire. Subsequent reports from the CHP, however, said investigators have not yet confirmed what caused the vehicle to catch fire. The exact circumstances surrounding both the collision and subsequent blaze remain under investigation.
CHP has not announced what caused the Tesla to leave the roadway and strike the tree. No determination has been released regarding whether speed, impairment or other factors played a role in the crash.
The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation.
© 2026 Folsom Times. All rights reserved
