The remains of a Tesla vehicle can be seen after it crashed in The Woodlands, Texas, April 17, 2021, in this still image from video obtained via social media. Video taken on April 17, 2021. SCOTT J. ENGLE via REUTERS
One of two victims who died in Texas last weekend in the crash of a Tesla car believed to be operating without a driver was William Varner, a doctor, his employer said Tuesday.
The Tesla Model S crashed into a tree near Houston Saturday night and burst into flames, killing one occupant in the front passenger seat and owner in the backseat, police said.
Witnesses told police the accident occurred shortly after the victims left a home and said they would test the automated driving skills. read more
“Dr. Varner was a wonderful person who has had a lot of personal influence …” Memorial Hermann said of The Woodlands Medical Center in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by so many.”
Varner, a 58-year-old anesthetist, graduated from the medical department of the University of Texas at Galveston in 1988.
“We were saddened by the death of one of our doctors over the weekend. Dr. Varner has cared for others throughout his life, and now we are focused on caring for his colleagues and family to help them cope with this sudden and unexpected loss, “US Anesthesia Partners said in a statement to Reuters.
The other victim, born in 1951, was not identified on Tuesday.
Texas police have told Reuters it would seek search warrants to secure vehicle data after Tesla director Elon Musk tweeted that the data showed the vehicle was not running on Autopilot.
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