Elderly Woman Trapped in Tesla for Over an Hour in 'Pet Safe Mode'
Police rescued an elderly woman in Washington after she was trapped inside a Tesla for over an hour. The car's air conditioning was not functioning, leading to a rise in interior temperature.
Police in Washington rescued an elderly woman on Tuesday evening after responding to a distress call where she claimed to be trapped inside a Tesla. Multiple passersby had observed the woman knocking on the window and waving for help.
The woman, described as being in her 80s, was reportedly left in the vehicle by her granddaughter while the granddaughter went into a local business. Before leaving, the granddaughter had activated Tesla's 'Pet Safe Mode,' a feature designed to maintain the car's climate control while the driver is away.
According to the Sheriff's office, the air conditioning was not operating, and the interior temperature of the car reached approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38°C). Footage posted on social media shows body-camera recordings of deputies attending to the situation.
Officers were able to locate the granddaughter, who remotely unlocked the vehicle as she approached it. The woman was reportedly stuck in the car for a little over an hour, though the granddaughter told officers she was only away for roughly three minutes.