Tesla Gets Hit By Meteorite In Australia

[mn90403]

On October 19, 2025, a Tesla Model Y driven by South Australian veterinarian Dr. Andrew Melville-Smith encountered an extraordinary “edge case” on the Augusta Highway. While operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised mode at night, a mysterious object—suspected to be a meteorite—slammed into the windshield, shattering it and spraying hot glass fragments into the cabin. The impact, reaching temperatures over 1,500°C, melted and resolidified the glass, leaving scorched patterns unlike any terrestrial damage.

Melville-Smith, bleeding from cuts and in shock, credits FSD for maintaining control and safely continuing down the dark road, averting disaster for him and his passenger. Sentry Mode footage showed no debris or vandals, ruling out earthly causes. The South Australian Museum’s Dr. Kieran Meaney is analyzing samples, noting the upward trajectory and heat suggest a high-velocity space rock—potentially the world’s first documented meteorite strike on a moving vehicle.

Tesla enthusiasts hail it as proof of autonomous tech’s life-saving prowess, turning a cosmic fluke into engineering legend!

 

The Tesla Space on X: "BREAKING: TESLA GOT HIT BY A METEORITE WHILE ON FSD It's a one in a trillion chance to get hit while driving. This just happened in South Australia at 68 mph, Tesla on FSD kept going smoothly. Tesla Model Y, now field-tested as the safest car to drive when hit by a meteorite. https://t.co/GUDipLkp9j" / X

https://x.com/TheTeslaSpace/status/1983495116267327649

I don't see any mention of the recovery of the meteorite.  It could be very valuable.  It could fetch more than an Otani home run ball!  

If anyone finds it, let us know here.

[Gold Seeker]

I have always heard that small meteorites aren't very hot if at all at the point they reach the ground, a big one may retain some of the heat gained on going through our atmosphere, but from what I have read small ones lose that heat very rapidly once they get through the outer atmosphere. 

So since the Tesla wasn't totally destroyed it would of been a small one so I doubt the glass could of been melted by a meteorite.

Hopefully they recover pieces if whatever it was so we all will know!

[VicR]

3 hours ago, mn90403 said:

I don't see any mention of the recovery of the meteorite.  It could be very valuable.  It could fetch more than an Otani home run ball! 

In South Australia all meteorites are automatically owned by the South Australian state government and are used in scientific research - the driver would not be able to sell it legally.

[Hardtimehermit]

I would wait to hear if it was actually a meteorite, the melting glass sounds suspicious.

[VicR]

1 hour ago, Hardtimehermit said:

I would wait to hear if it was actually a meteorite, the melting glass sounds suspicious.

The analysis of the windscreen is being done by the South Australian Museum. If they detect any traces of meteorite material they will go back to the impact site and search for it. Another possibility is space junk (quote from SA Museum) -  a lot is targeted our way because  we are perceived to be lightly populated - thanks for that! 

Thought it was crazy to drive FSD at night when all the kangaroos are about - there are reports of FSD not being able to react in time to a roo jumping in front of you - especially at 110km/h. 

[mn90403]

I had wondered about the temperature thing but I attribute it more to the reporter who researched meteors/meteorites.  I can understand fragments from an impact but who said there was melted glass rather than safety glass?

[VicR]

1 hour ago, mn90403 said:

I can understand fragments from an impact but who said there was melted glass rather than safety glass?

I think the melted or fused glass is what made the SA Museum interested in this case. They have taken the windscreen out and are analysing it and I'm sure they will publish their findings sooner or later. Plenty of windscreens are damaged here - usually rocks from oncoming traffic (trucks mainly). I am averaging 1 windscreen replacement every 2 years for the last 8 years.

[GotAU?]

Couldn’t the windshield glass and meteorite partially melt from just the shock of the high impact alone? It doesn’t have to be a hot meteorite. Sand and rocks form glassy tektites that way.

I guess a tracer round or other type of incendiary bullet may have also done that, and the hot fragments were from it?

[Aureous]

On 11/4/2025 at 5:56 PM, GotAU? said:

Couldn’t the windshield glass and meteorite partially melt from just the shock of the high impact alone? It doesn’t have to be a hot meteorite. Sand and rocks form glassy tektites that way.

I guess a tracer round or other type of incendiary bullet may have also done that, and the hot fragments were from it?

Funny you should say that because a very large Australian Army training range exists not far from the road where this incident occurred. I know the location very well from my army days. Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one...