The parents of a teenager, who tragically lost her life in a crash involving a Cybertruck last fall, are suing Tesla. Court documents indicate the incident occurred in a serene town in the California Bay Area, where the vehicle, carrying four passengers, crashed into a tree and ignited.
Only one of the passengers survived the crash.
The lawsuit, lodged on Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court, is brought forth by the family of a 19-year-old college student who was home visiting for Thanksgiving in Piedmont, California, at the time of the accident. The crash happened late on the night of November 27, 2024, as the Cybertruck was speeding, collided with a tree, and burst into flames. The California Highway Patrol Report states that the truck’s electric doors became inoperable during the fire, leaving the four passengers trapped inside.
The lawsuit claims that the design of the Cybertruck’s door handles contributed to the teen’s death. When the power was cut off, the only way to exit through the rear door was to pull a cable located beneath the pocket liner in the door compartment. According to a Bloomberg report, the doors remained locked from outside, making it difficult for rescuers to assist in a timely manner.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comments on the matter.
Roger Dreyer, an attorney representing the family, stated, “The design of this vehicle ultimately failed Christa. There was no accessible manual override or emergency release for her to escape.”
Tesla’s door handles are a signature feature and a source of pride for CEO Elon Musk. As the first production vehicles with such electric handles, they are designed to enhance the car’s sleek appearance. However, this design has drawn criticism from car safety experts and is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The lawsuit alleges that Tesla’s reliance on electric door mechanisms has created a significant risk of entrapment. “There have been documented instances where occupants survived the initial crash impact but were unable to escape when the power failed and a fire ensued,” the suit asserts.
Despite receiving a high safety rating in crash tests, the Cybertruck has faced eight recalls since its launch two years ago. Tesla is also embroiled in other lawsuits regarding vehicle safety, including one in Florida, where a judge ordered the company to pay $243 million for issues related to its driver assistance system, Autopilot.
The Tsukahara family’s case is particularly notable as the driver, Soren Dixon, was reportedly under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines during the accident, according to the Alameda County Coroner. Dixon also died in the crash.
On the night of the accident, a friend who was pursuing the Cybertruck in another vehicle witnessed the incident. He rushed to assist and broke the windows of the Cybertruck, managing to rescue one passenger before the flames made it impossible to save Christa.
The lawsuit contends that while Christa did not suffer physical injuries from the impact of the crash, she succumbed to smoke inhalation and burns due to her inability to escape the vehicle.
“Her death was preventable,” stated her parents, Carl and Noel Tsukahara, in a statement. “She was alive after the crash, calling for help, yet she could not get out.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
