Safety board will not investigate Tesla crash

The National Transportation Safety Board won’t be investigating a fiery fatal crash of a Tesla over the weekend, the agency said Tuesday.

The safety board is expected to issue reports this year on other crashes or fires involving Tesla cars that happened in Mountain View, Culver City and Lake Forest, all in California, and a 2018 accident in Fort Lauderdale, where two young men died.

A physician and father of five was killed Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his 2016 Tesla Model S sedan and hit a tree about two miles from his home in Davie, police said. The Tesla was engulfed in flames and later, while in a tow yard, reignited and burned several times.

After speaking with the Davie police department’s traffic homicide investigators, the NTSB decided not to investigate the crash, Christopher O’Neil, chief of media relations, said Tuesday. The NTSB investigates all aviation crashes but not all automotive incidents.

“At the end of the day, we have all of these other investigations where we feel like we’ll have a good body of investigative evidence, upon which to make good safety recommendations to help prevent recurrence,” O’Neil said.

The Tesla’s driver, Omar Awan, was speeding between 75 mph and 90 mph while heading north on South Flamingo Road about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, witnesses told police.

Whether Awan was using the car’s advance driver system, or “autopilot,” may not be known for months, Davie Police Sgt. Mark Leone said. Davie police are investigating the accident.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles driving record for Awan lists him as a safe driver with a valid license.

In Broward County in 2018, Awan was cited for a red-light

violation and speeding 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. In both cases, a magistrate ordered adjudication withheld, meaning he would not be convicted if he paid fines. Awan had an open traffic case at the time of his death: Sunrise police ticketed him in November for speeding 64 mph in a 45 mph zone. Awan had pleaded not guilty to the infraction and a trial had been scheduled for March.

Awan, 48, of Davie, worked for Envision Physician Services in Plantation. He was an anesthesiologist and cared for patients at Memorial Hospital Pembroke in Pembroke Pines, the company said.

“It’s a true tragedy,” said Ron Cunningham, spokesperson for Envision Physician Services. “He was well liked and respected. It’s quite a shock to the physicians he has been working with.”

Dr. Karim Abouelenin, chief of anesthesiology for the practice, called Awan’s death “very, very sad news.”

Abouelenin said Awan “loved practicing medicine” and that his passion showed in his work. Awan worked to keep his patients free from pain during their operations and after they went home, too, Abouelenin said.

“He was very compassionate for his patients,” Abouelenin said. “He was instrumental in our department.

All the surgeons respected him. He was always requested and his presence brings comfort to everyone.”

At the end of a tough surgery or a long day, Awan would lower everyone’s stress level, his colleague said.

“He knows how to choose what to say and the words that bring relief for everyone,” Abouelenin said. “He knows how to make everyone feel good about what we did. He makes everyone feel grateful about their jobs, taking care of patients, saving lives.”

He called Awan’s death “a huge loss” to the practice where he worked 11 years. “It’s very devastating for his wife,” he said.

Awan and his wife Liliana Marcu Awan, who is also a doctor, also had a private practice in Hollywood.

The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office used dental records to confirm Awan’s identity, the office

said Tuesday.

Awan was born in London and studied at Rutgers University; Ross University and the University of Pennsylvania, according to state records and an online obituary published by BoydPanciera Family Funeral Care.

Pre-deceased by a son, Kyle F. Awan, in 2015, Awan is survived by his wife and children Rizvan Awan; Saf Awan; Zaria Awan; Zain Awan and Alina Awan, the death notice said.

Visitation is scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday at BoydPanciera Family Funeral Care, 6400 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. That will be followed at noon by a celebration of Awan’s life. Burial is set for 1:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn South Cemetery, 2401 SW 64th Ave., Fort Lauderdale.