The motive force of a Tesla Model Y has been charged with murder in a crash that claimed a motorcyclist’s life. In response to NBC 7, prosecutors say that Ulysses Jimenez was upset that the BMW motorcycle was within the carpool lane of I-805 in Chula Vista, California, near San Diego. He allegedly accelerated as much as 126 mph before slamming into Jorge Uribe, throwing him 500 feet down the road and leaving an imprint of Uribe’s license plate within the Tesla’s front bumper. The Model Y then collided with a Ram 1500 that was carrying six occupants inside, all of whom were injured, before rolling onto its side. Uribe died on the scene of the crash.
After the crash, Jimenez reportedly climbed out of the Tesla and walked barefoot down the highway between lanes, attempting to catch a ride away from the scene. A witness says he waved a handful of money at passing drivers, then got offended when no person would stop. Police arrested him a short while later.
Jimenez has pleaded not guilty to at least one count of first-degree murder, one count of hit-and-run causing death, and 6 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one for every of the Ram’s six occupants. He’s being held without bail and is awaiting trial in September.
A tragic end to a protracted trip
Uribe’s partner, Dulce Martinez, told 10 News that he was just coming back from a motorbike trip to Washington state. Judging from the NBC 7 footage, it seems that he was riding a BMW R 1300 GS, perhaps the Adventure version. Uribe was just two hours away from Martinez’s home in Ensenada, Mexico, his destination that evening. He leaves behind Martinez; their daughter, who is nearly two; and a 16-year-old son. Through the trip, Uribe had bought a onesie for his daughter, which Martinez found inside his backpack when it was returned to her.
Although Jimenez was driving a Tesla, this doesn’t seem like one more case of Autopilot failure. Statements Jimenez allegedly made after his arrest led police to imagine his actions were intentional. This will likely be closer to the “Tesla Road Rage Guy,” who was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his actions. Jimenez might be taking a look at life in prison if convicted.
This Article First Appeared At www.jalopnik.com
