Deputies with the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office rescued an elderly woman trapped inside a Tesla for over an hour on a hot afternoon in Washington State. The incident occurred shortly after 5:15 p.m. in Kitsap County, west of Seattle.
Bystanders alerted authorities after observing the woman, who appeared to be in distress, inside the vehicle. Responding deputies found the car doors locked and were initially unable to gain entry. It was later determined the Tesla was operating in 'pet safe mode,' a feature designed to maintain air conditioning while the doors are locked from within. However, the air conditioning was not functioning, causing the interior temperature to rise.
The woman, who only spoke Spanish, was unable to communicate her distress effectively to deputies. Body camera footage captured a deputy using an online translation tool to type messages and place his phone against the window for her to read. Deputies learned the woman had been inside the car for at least an hour while her granddaughter, who had left her there, conducted business in a nearby building.
Deputies located the granddaughter approximately 15 minutes after arriving at the scene. They escorted her back to the Tesla, where she unlocked the doors. Rescuers estimated the interior temperature of the vehicle had reached approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit by the time the woman was able to exit. Outside temperatures in the area reached a high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit that day.
The National Weather Service notes that temperatures inside a vehicle can increase by 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes and by 50 degrees in an hour, even when ambient temperatures are in the 70s.
The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office documented the incident and has forwarded the information to Adult Protective Services for review. Tesla was approached for comment.