Tesla Crashes And Burns On Freeway Transition; Forces Closure In Glendora

GLENDORA, CA — The driver of a Tesla went off a transition road in Glendora, hit a tree with the vehicle catching fire, causing a hazardous materials situation that shut down the Orange Freeway, authorities said Sunday.

The crash on the transition from the northbound Orange (57) Freeway to the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway was reported at 11:14 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Tesla caught fire and that spread to trees down the embankment, the CHP said.

When the Tesla's battery caught fire, officers diverted traffic from the Orange Freeway to the Foothill Freeway, the CHP said.

The driver was taken by ambulance to Pomona Valley Hospital with major injuries, officials said.

There was an indication in the CHP's online log that there might be evacuations in the area due to a hazardous materials from the Tesla's lithium batteries, but Glendora police reported evacuations were not needed.