Driver's body recovered after Tesla Model S veers into Castro Valley pond

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. - A driver of a Tesla Model S drove into a pond and his body ended up being recovered early Monday morning in a fatal accident that closed a portion of Crow Canyon Road in Castro Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly identified the driver as Keith Leung, 34, of Danville. It is unknown at this time if the Tesla was in autopilot mode or not.  

A property owner found what appeared to be damage from the crash on Crow Canyon Road just before 8 p.m. on Sunday, according to CHP Officer Daniel Jacowitz. He called 911 and when he came outside he saw damage to his fence and tire tracks leading up to the pond. 

Nine members of the Alameda County Sheriff’s rescue team went into the pond about 10 p.m. and found the driver, still sitting upright in the driver's seat, Jacowitz said. He was pulled out and declared dead at the scene about 5:30 a.m.

"It's really tragic," Jacowitz said.

Tesla did not immediately respond for comment on Monday.

However, CHP officers did acknowledge that this stretch of road is a problem area and they conduct enforcement there on a regular basis.  The speed limit ranges from 35 mph to 55 mph and officers say they have cited people for going as fast as 75 mph.

Neighbors have regularly complained that they can’t get out of their drive ways because vehicle are driving so fast.

Jacowitz added that Leung would have had to have been driving more than posted speed limit of 35 mph to have gone airborne and fly the distance it did. 

“The vehicle was submerged...trees in the water made it difficult to tow it out,” said CHP Sgt. Michael Novosel.