A Tesla crashed into a dense collection of trees on the north side of Mentone Tuesday, Aug. 9. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — A woman who allegedly stole a Tesla in Mentone crashed it minutes later into a thicket of trees.

The accident happened shortly before 2 p.m. on a gravel road that leads to the town’s sewage plant.

The unidentified driver was airlifted by Lutheran Air to a hospital.

Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads declined comment other than to say the woman entered a house in the middle of town and then took the car without permission.

Eads said the driver’s injuries were not life-threatening, but a thorough checkout was sought because of the nature of the high-speed crash.

A neighbor said she watched the theft unfold, ran to the car owner’s house and urged the woman not to take it. The driver then sped off at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle crashed about a mile away into clump of trees and heavy vegetation that required chain saws to clear a path to remove the vehicle.

Among the agencies responding were Mentone Police, Mentone Fire, Lutheran EMS and Mentone EMS.

It appears the car crashed through several trees before stopping. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

A Lutheran Air helicopter takes off after picking up an injured driver from a crash in Mentone. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.