In a harrowing incident, a driver in a green Ford Mach-E electric car appeared to be unable to stop his vehicle while heading down the highway in the San Francisco Bay area, with an onlooker in a nearby car catching the driver on film, praying fervently as his car caused chaos on the road and eventually collided with a red Mitsubishi.
For background, a terrifying car accident was caught on camera on August 13, 2025, in the Bay Area, involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E that careened down the highway due to what was first thought to be brake failure. After grinding against the median wall for a period of time, the Mach-E hit another vehicle, causing it to roll over. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, and the police later confirmed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
In the video, which quickly went viral online, the Mach-E driver can be seen desperately praying as his car appears to be moving of its own accord without the ability to stop. A driver in a nearby vehicle can be heard yelling, “Hey!” as passersby honk furiously. Finally, the Mach-E lost control and hit a red Mitsubishi Mirage, which flipped over as a result.
Moreover, car reporter Thanos Pappas responded to the incident by confirming that the Mach-E driver would have been able to “attempt an emergency stop” by pressing the parking brake button multiple times. Pappas added, “The witness notes that earlier, the Mach-E had been riding the central barrier, suggesting the driver might have been using physical contact with the walls to slow the car down.”
Additionally, when a clip of the horrifying incident was posted on X by the user HustleBi—, commenters were stunned. The poster described the highway nightmare as an “ELECTRIC FORD MALFUNCTION,” adding, “STEERING LOCKED, GAS FLOORED ON FREEWAY.” He added, “Driver seen praying as the car goes out of control before smashing into another vehicle.”
In response to HustleBi—‘s take on the crash, commenters had plenty of questions. The X user Jimi wrote, “Why not turn it off?” A commenter replied, “You can’t turn it off when this malfunction occurs. Brakes, speed, direction, and engine status ie whether it’s on or off are locked in the condition that existed just before the malfunction occurred.” However, another commenter speculated that the situation could have been avoided through the use of the emergency brake.”
However, on August 14, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued a press release for the purposes of providing “accurate information and context regarding the incident.” The CHP clarified that through an investigation, they “determined the vehicle was not operating in autonomous mode,” adding, “CHP officers arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence, resulting in injuries to another.”
Moreover, the CHP stated that the crash in the video occurred in San Carlos, California, on US-101, adding, The CHP conducts each investigation thoroughly, professionally, and in accordance with the law. We thank the community for its concern and remind motorist (sic) to report dangerous driving by calling 9-1-1.”
Watch the footage of the harrowing crash:
Featured image credit: video screengrab