A driver in Florida has been sentenced to 27 years behind bars after crashing a Tesla into a house, resulting in the deaths of the homeowner, her pet dog, and a passenger in the vehicle.
Vaughn W. Mongan, 45, admitted to vehicular homicide and reckless driving causing severe bodily harm, leading to his lengthy prison sentence.
In September 2021, Mongan was driving a brand-new Tesla at a shocking 116 mph in a Palm Harbor residential area where the speed limit was only 30 mph. He ran a stop sign and plowed into a house, taking the lives of 69-year-old Donna Rein, her dog, and Travis Meisman, who was riding in the car with him.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Mongan did not stop at an intersection, veered off the road, struck a grassy edge, and became airborne. The car then crashed through a vinyl fence and slammed into the back of the residence.
The collision killed Lilly, Rein’s 14-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, and Travis Meisman, the vehicle owner and passenger, later died at a nearby hospital. The crash also left other passengers, Colin Keeler, Sean Donahue, and Christopher French, injured.
Sergeant Steve Gaskins informed local media that the car went through the entire house, demolishing a wall and part of the roof, and causing the death of the homeowner.
While Tesla vehicles are known for their autopilot capabilities, there’s no evidence from law enforcement that Mongan was using this feature during the tragic accident.