A Tesla crashed through the entrance of a Florida liquor store on October 21 after its driver reportedly attempted to use the vehicle’s self-driving feature. The collision left the business with an estimated $50,000 in damage, although nobody was injured.
Local 10 News in Florida reported that the driver told Doral police she was attempting to use self-driving mode when the Tesla suddenly accelerated. However, whether the system was actually engaged at the time of the crash remains unclear.
The incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. at Corner Wine and Spirits, located at 5335 NW 87th Avenue in Doral, Florida. According to additional reporting from Univision, the driver was attempting to turn right into a parking area when the vehicle accelerated, struck a stop sign, and continued into the building.
Surveillance footage captured the Tesla crashing through the glass entrance and coming to a stop inside the store. Fortunately, no customers or employees were standing in its path.
How the Tesla Ran Into the Liquor Store
Embedded footage of the crash follows; please allow a moment for it to load.
The Doral Police Department said the driver reported attempting to use the self-driving feature when the Tesla suddenly accelerated. Officers issued her a traffic citation.
Univision identified the driver as Lee Young, a North Carolina resident, and reported that she was cited for careless driving. The station also said the estimated damage to the liquor store reached approximately $50,000.
The collision damaged more than the glass doors. Employees reported damage to refrigerators, a television, liquor bottles, and merchandise displayed near the entrance, including expensive bottles.
One employee told Univision she was recording an audio message on her phone when the crash happened. The recording captured the sound of the impact, which she described as resembling a powerful explosion.
Her first reaction was to reach the driver and help her out of the Tesla. According to the employee, the woman was visibly nervous after the collision.
The employee also believed the driver might have been visiting the area rather than living locally, an impression consistent with Univision’s reporting that she was from North Carolina.
A Costly Crash With No Injuries
Local 10 News also spoke with the store manager, who described how close the crash came to an area where customers normally browse gift baskets and other merchandise.
“People normally look around here at the stuff we have on display,” said the manager. She called it a miracle that nobody was standing in front of the vehicle when it entered the store.
The counter was strong enough to stop the Tesla from traveling farther into the business. At the time, employees were toward the back of the store, and no customers were near the affected display.
“It was a very heavy crash,” the manager said.
The business reopened the following day, although wooden boards had replaced the shattered glass doors. Employees were left cleaning up broken glass and assessing the damage to the store’s interior and merchandise.
The crash also raises questions about the driver’s explanation to police. Attempting to activate a self-driving feature does not necessarily mean it was engaged or controlling the vehicle.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system requires an attentive driver who remains responsible for operating the vehicle and intervening when necessary.
Available reports have not established whether any Tesla driver-assistance feature was active during the collision or what caused the sudden acceleration.
Police cited the driver for careless driving, but the reported circumstances alone do not establish whether the crash resulted from driver input, a technical malfunction, or another factor.