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White Tesla Crashes at Simi Valley Target, One Dead

6/30/2026

42 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Driver Crashes

A white Tesla crashed into Urbane Cafe’s patio at a Target in Simi Valley on June 29, 2026, killing a 79-year-old woman.
Ventura County Fire responders found six victims, four with minor injuries.
Police named the driver, a 64-year-old Thousand Oaks woman, as moderately injured and taken to Los Robles Hospital.
Investigators said the driver lost control turning right, hit the sidewalk and pedestrian, and found no drugs or alcohol.

Summary

Neighborhoods Urge

Community members left a flower bouquet on the sidewalk outside Urbane Café in memory of the victim.
Police said no charges have been filed while investigators assess possible criminal liability.
Neighborhood groups are urging added curb and sidewalk safety measures near the Target parking area.
Tesla has not issued a public comment, leaving the public awaiting a response on possible vehicle issues.

Summary

Tesla Driver Crashes

At 2:30 p.m., a white Tesla crashed into the Target outdoor dining area at Madera and Tierra Rejada Roads, deploying airbags and front-end damage.
Police cordoned off the lot and identified the driver as a man from Thousand Oaks, correcting earlier reports of a female driver.
One of three juveniles in the vehicle required hospitalization for minor injuries.
Authorities withheld the victim’s name until next-of-kin notification could be completed.

History

Historical Context

May 7 2016, a Tesla Model S on Autopilot struck an 18-wheel tractor-trailer in Williston, Florida, killing driver Joshua Brown – the first U.S. fatality linked to semi-autonomous driving. NHTSA opened a formal probe in June 2016 and the NTSB later cited driver inattention and system design. That precedent frames today’s Simi Valley and Madera Target crashes, prompting renewed regulator scrutiny.

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Driver Crashes

A white Tesla crashed into Urbane Cafe’s patio at a Target in Simi Valley on June 29, 2026, killing a 79-year-old woman.
Ventura County Fire responders found six victims, four with minor injuries.
Police named the driver, a 64-year-old Thousand Oaks woman, as moderately injured and taken to Los Robles Hospital.
Investigators said the driver lost control turning right, hit the sidewalk and pedestrian, and found no drugs or alcohol.

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