A tragic incident involving a Tesla Cybertruck has resulted in the death of 19-year-old Krysta Tsukahara and two other college students in Piedmont, California, after the vehicle crashed and exploded into flames. According to two lawsuits, the crash occurred in November when the car struck a retaining wall and a tree.
The car was being driven by 19-year-old Soren Dixon, with 20-year-old Jack Nelson as a passenger, both of whom also perished in the crash. A fourth passenger, Jordan Miller, managed to escape the burning vehicle after a passerby used a tree branch to smash the windscreen and help him out.
Speaking to The New York Times, Recent details surrounding the crash have emerged, shedding light on the horror of the incident. In a lawsuit filed by Krysta Tsukahara’s parents, Carl and Noelle Tsukahara, it is revealed that Krysta survived the crash but was unable to escape the burning vehicle. The crash caused the Tesla to lose power, disabling the electronic door release system, which left her trapped inside.
The lawsuit claims she died from smoke inhalation and burns as onlookers were unable to free her and the other occupants from the vehicle. The lawsuit also reveals that Tesla’s vehicle doors are powered by a 12-volt battery, which can fail in the event of a crash, rendering the car’s electronic door release inoperable. While there is a manual door release, it is reportedly difficult to locate and access.
The Tsukaharas’ attorney, Roger Dreyer, criticized Tesla’s design, stating, “It’s just a horror story. Tesla knows that it’s happened and that it’s going to happen, and they are doing nothing but selling the car with a system that entraps people and doesn’t provide a way of extraction.”
He told KTVU Fox 2: In addition to the Tsukaharas’ case, the lawsuit includes over 30 other documented instances of alleged issues with Tesla’s door systems. The suit accuses Tesla of having a “conscious disregard” for consumer safety and claims the company was aware of the problem for years.
The plaintiffs argue that the design of the doors lacked a functional, accessible, and conspicuous manual door release mechanism or fail-safe. Tesla has not yet commented on the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Jack Nelson’s parents, Todd and Stannye, filed a separate wrongful death suit on Thursday, also seeking unspecified punitive damages from Tesla.
While the four victims tested positive for cocaine, alcohol, and other substances at the time of the crash, the Tsukaharas’ attorney remains confident that they have a strong case against the electric vehicle manufacturer. The California Highway Patrol has confirmed that impaired driving and speeding were factors in the crash, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Dreyer added, “They [Tesla] will want to blame Mr. Dixon, anybody but themselves. But this vehicle absolutely should not have entombed these individuals and my client’s daughter. It’s our way of holding the wrongdoer accountable and correcting bad conduct.”
Tesla’s Cybertruck, launched in November 2023, has faced ongoing issues, including a recall of over 46,000 units in March of this year due to collision risks.