A Tesla Model Y turned heads as it went viral for towing a semi-trailer around town, with over a million viewers captivated by the original video posted on Wednesday. As the night unfolded, the story took unexpected turns, and The Drive interviewed those dealing with the aftermath of the EV’s abandonment near a gas station, revealing a situation that was becoming increasingly chaotic.
Initially sighted near a Bass Pro Shops in Harlingen, Texas, the Tesla, adorned with temporary tags, towed the trailer, prompting a call to Capital Towing from the Texas Department of Public Safety to remove the vehicle from a Valero near Palm Valley. Deploying both a light-duty unit for the EV and a heavy-duty unit for the trailer, Capital Towing impounded both in the end.
A Capital Towing employee disclosed, “It was hitched up with what I believe was a UPS dolly,” emphasizing the bizarre nature of the situation, particularly since there was no way to illuminate the trailer while driving. Despite the Tesla Model Y being equipped with a towing package, the trailer’s connector proved incompatible with the car’s seven-pin outlet, raising safety concerns, especially at night.
Nighttime exacerbated the situation, as towing more than 3,500 pounds, the Model Y’s rated capacity, became a disaster—particularly with the empty trailer, estimated at around 10,000 pounds, dwarfing the crossover. No reported collisions occurred, and upon Capital Towing’s arrival, the driver was absent, leaving the vehicle abandoned.
In summary, the driver abandoned the Tesla, leaving it for retrieval, and several TikTok videos emerged capturing the peculiar sight of the car and trailer. Yet, as of now, no footage has surfaced capturing the elusive driver up-close.
