New Hampshire

3 Teenagers Hospitalized After Fiery Tesla Crash in Rindge, NH

Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating a fiery crash involving a Tesla that left one teenager with life-threatening injuries and sent two others to the hospital.

State and local police say they responded to a crash on Perry Road in Rindge just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday. When emergency crews arrived, they found neighbors helping the people inside of the remains of a Tesla Model X that had split into two and had caught fire.

The driver, identified as 17-year-old Travis Olson, of Rindge, and a 17-year-old passenger, Chelsea Holombo, of New Ipswich, were taken to Monadnock Community Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

A third passenger, 19-year-old Nina Colasanto of New Ipswich, was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with life-threatening injuries.

All three teens are expected to survive.

Chase Holombo said when he saw photos of the crash, he thought there was no way his sister, Chelsea, could have made it out alive.

"It's unbelievable, that car is completely in half," Holombo told NBC10 Boston on Thursday.

A video from witness Michelle Barnhart showed the frame of the Tesla being pulled out of the woods.

"The fact that all three of them, there are no fatalities, it's a miracle really," Holombo said.

Although the cause of the crash remains under investigation, state police said they believe speed played a factor. Authorities say Travis lost control and went off the road.

On Thursday evening, firefighters were still working to clean up the thousands of tiny Tesla batteries that run the car.

The Tesla was apparently the reason the teens were out.

"Nina wanted a ride for her birthday in the car," Holombo explained.

Neighbors who heard the crash called 911 and when they saw the car burst into flames, they even tried to use a fire extinguisher before first responders arrived.

"We just all know they were in God's hands last night," said Holombo.

Anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to contact New Hampshire State Police Trooper First Class Bryan Plamondon at 603-223-8677.

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