Tesla says it will assist Chinese police investigation into fatal crash

U.S. vehicle manufacturer Tesla on Sunday said it will assist Chinese police in investigating an accident involving one of its Model Y cars after two people died and three were injured when a driver lost control of the automobile, according to local media reports.

Footage of the incident shows the car on Nov. 5 slowing down on the side of the road as if the driver were attempting to park it, before speeding away.

The vehicle killed a motorcyclist and a high school girl in the southern province of Guangdong, Reuters reported, citing local outlets. The Tesla also crashed into a cyclist as well as other vehicles.

The 55-year-old driver reportedly had brake issues when he attempted to pull over in front of his family's store.

"Police are currently seeking a third party appraisal agency to identify the truth behind this accident and we will actively provide any necessary assistance," Tesla said Sunday, adding a warning against believing "rumors." 

The company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, said videos show the car's brake lights were not on and there is no data showing that the driver attempted to use the brakes as the car sped down the road.

Tesla's second-largest market is China, and the incident was one of the top trending topics on the state-controlled social media platform Weibo.