HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities say two women had an elaborate excuse for why they crashed into a parked car and fled the scene.<\/p>\n
The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office said Kenyarda Leavell and Portia Ellis called 911 claiming to be victims of a carjacking after crashing into the Tesla in the 1800 block of Laurel Valley Drive just after 3 a.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n
Video from the Tesla’s on-board cameras disproved their account, the constable’s office said.<\/p>\n
The Tesla’s owner, Johnny Tran, told Eyewitness News he belongs to a traveling car club and was visiting Houston from Austin last weekend.<\/p>\n
The Tesla, which was specially adapted for the racetrack, was set to be showcased at the Slammedenuff Texas Car Show at the Reliant Center Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Tran said he parked it outside his Airbnb overnight when the on-board video shows a blue Audi drive up and sideswipe it.<\/p>\n
The video shows the Audi stopping in front of Tran’s Tesla, and a female passenger eventually emerging.<\/p>\n
“I got a notification on my Tesla app saying that someone had hit my car, so I rushed downstairs and saw two people standing behind my vehicle,” said Tran. “My first thought is I thought they were trying to break in or steal some parts off of my car.”<\/p>\n
Tran said both women walked away before he could speak to them.<\/p>\n
Within minutes, authorities say they called 911 claiming a man had forced his way into their car at gunpoint and that he was driving it when it crashed into the Tesla.<\/p>\n
“Reportee advises they’re passengers of the vehicle and then jumped out the vehicle and ran to an Airbnb,” a dispatcher can be heard on police radio.<\/p>\n
It turns out the Airbnb referenced was just houses down from where the crash occurred.<\/p>\n
Deputies arrested both women there and charged them with making a false report. Leavell is also charged with leaving the scene of the crash.<\/p>\n
As for Tran, he said his Tesla is no longer drivable. Photos show the car with significant body damage, and Tran said the rear axle is bent.<\/p>\n
He’s currently working with his insurance company to determine whether Leavell was insured.<\/p>\n
But he might never have known who was to blame for the damage to his car without his car’s cameras.<\/p>\n
“The Sentry Mode worked when it’s supposed to, and it notified me when it was supposed to. I’m just super thankful for that,” he said.<\/p>\n
Leavell and Ellis were released on $100 bonds. Both are listed as living in Georgia, and bond conditions don’t appear to restrict their ability to travel.<\/p>\n
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