Tragedy on the A10: Why did the Tesla fire department remain inactive?

Tragedy on the A10: Why did the Tesla fire department remain inactive?

A tragic incident occurred on December 12, 2024 on the A10 near Grünheide, where 36-year-old Lee Ryan Walker burned to death in his Renault while the vehicle was trapped between two trucks. The accident occurred after traffic suddenly came to a standstill. A following semi-trailer noticed this too late and drove into Walker. Despite the proximity of the Tesla factory fire brigade, which was only a few hundred meters away, no immediate action was taken, leading to heated questions and outrage, as various reports from T-Online and the Märkische Allgemeine show.

However, the circumstances surrounding the deployment of the plant fire department raise serious concerns. According to these reports, the Oderland fire department control center decided to first send local fire departments to assess the situation. Only after the highway was completely closed did employees of the Tesla factory fire department come into action to secure the water supply. “If we had been allowed to move out immediately, we might have been able to help the accident victim,” a fire department employee who wished to remain anonymous told the Märkische Allgemeine. Videos show the factory fire brigade standing by with flashing lights but not intervening - a sight that outraged one eyewitness and was described as "unbelievable".

Error in alerting

The tragic incident does not occur without warning. A day before the fatal accident, there had been similar problems with alerting, which led to considerable delays. The Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the Tesla factory fire department is generally authorized to operate outside the factory premises if safety in the factory is not endangered. The current case is now being investigated, but there is no official statement from Tesla or the fire department yet. The Oder-Spree district emphasized that they are currently obtaining statements from the emergency services involved and cannot yet make a final statement.

Walker's death not only leaves a void in the work environment, but also in his community. Colleagues describe him as a valued colleague and friend who lived his life both at work and on the football field. A fundraiser has been launched to support Walker's family during this difficult time.

T Online report on the failed support from the factory fire department. More about this and the subsequent studies can be found on the Märkischen General to read.