Succession fans were shocked last Tuesday when one of the show’s stars, Alan Ruck, crashed his electric pickup truck into the side of a pizzeria in Hollywood.
The actor, who previously expressed his relief that ‘no one was killed,’ reportedly claimed at the scene that he didn’t know what caused him to crash into Raffallo’s Pizza.
Now it seems that police investigating that crash think there’s something to Ruck’s claims.
Detectives are considering the possibility that Ruck’s Rivian R1Ttruck may have had high-tech features that the 67-year-old actor wasn’t familiar with.
Although it’s still a theory at the moment, law enforcement is considering whether the truck’s various driving modes — some of which allow it to accelerate incredibly fast — may have contributed to the crash, according to TMZ.
Out of his element? Police think Alan Ruck, 67, may have crashed into a Hollywood Pizzeria on November 1 because he was unfamiliar with his electric truck’s high-tech features, TMZ reports; seen in 2022 in LA
Shocking: Ruck was involved in a four-vehicle crash before wedging his Rivian R1T electric truck into the side of Raffallo’s Pizza; the accident pictured on November 1
According to law enforcement sources, responding police officers bought Ruck’s claims that he had no idea what led him to hit the popular pizza spot.
Instead, they think the newness and potentially confusing features of the brand-new truck may have contributed to the incident.
Rivian is a rising electrical vehicle manufacturer best known for its pricy and luxurious SUVs and pickup trucks.
Ruck’s R1T truck likely had three different all-wheel drive systems that it could switched among: Dual Motor, Performance Dual-Motor and Quad-Motor.
The Performance Dual-Motor and Quad-Motor settings offer fast acceleration, and drivers using the Quad-Motor system can go from 0–60 miles per hour in just three seconds.
Electric vehicles are also known to accelerate faster than traditional combustion engine vehicles in general.
Although it’s still unclear just how police think Ruck’s trip went awry, they reportedly think he wasn’t completely sure how to pilot the space-age truck, which he may have lost control of.
So far, there’s no indication that any part of the truck malfunctioned before the crash.
The vehicle has a total range of between 230 and just over 400 miles on a full charge, depending on its battery size. Rivian’s trucks also have a hands-free mode similar to Tesla’s autopilot function, but it has camera’s installed in the cab to ensure that driver’s keep their eyes on the road, even if their hands are off the wheel.
It’s not known if Ruck had the self-driving mode installed on his truck, and if it was engaged if so.
In 2021, the R1T scored the coveted Motor Trend Truck of the Year designation.
According to the law enforcement sources, the LAPD is likely closing its investigation into the crash and letting insurance companies representing Ruck, the four vehicles involved and the pizzeria duke it out.
Officer’s think the newness of the vehicle and it’s special features may have played a role, particularly with its all-wheel drive modes
Super fast: The Rivian R1T has three all-wheel drive modes, including the quad-motor setting, which uses all four electric motor and lets it accelerate from 0–60 mph in just three seconds
Questions: The truck’s also have a self-driving mode, though it’s unclear if Ruck had that installed or activated. So far, there’s no indication of a vehicle malfunction
Off the hook: Ruck claimed at the scene that he didn’t know how the crash happened, and police are reportedly ready to close the investigation after accepting his story; publicity still for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Back on top: Ruck is best known for starring in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but he had a career revival in recent years when he played the oldest son Connor Roy in Succession (pictured)
The incident began around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, when Ruck’s truck appeared to come barreling through the La Brea Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard intersection, hitting multiple vehicles along the way before it slammed into the brick exterior of the pizzeria and came to a stop.
A pair of people at the scene were reportedly injured, but they were ‘conscious and breathing,’ according to TMZ.
The publication’s sources added that there was ‘no indication of DUI.’
Ruck is best known for his early role as Ferris Bueller’s best friend in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but in more recent years he benefited from renewed attention when he played the shoved-aside older brother Connor Roy on HBO’s acclaimed dramedy Succession.
