Piedmont, California — Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is under fire once again after the families of two young students filed lawsuits against the company, claiming that the design of the Cybertruck’s doors turned a survivable accident into a fatal fire trap.
The tragic crash, which occurred in November 2024, killed Krysta Tsukahara (19) and Jack Nelson (20) after their Tesla Cybertruck collided with a tree. According to the lawsuits, the vehicle’s electronic door system failed, locking the passengers inside while flames engulfed the truck.
The Accident
- Victim: Krysta Tsukahara, 19 — design student at Savannah College of Art and Design.
- Victim: Jack Nelson, 20.
- Driver: Soren Dixon (survived).
- Location: Piedmont, California.
- Cause: Driver lost control; impact caused batteries to ignite instantly.
Lawyers argue that Tesla’s manual release mechanism was hidden and unintuitive. To escape during an electrical failure, a passenger must:
- Remove a rubber mat at the door base.
- Locate a small cable.
- Pull it while simultaneously pushing the door.
Attorneys say this procedure is impractical in emergencies, especially amid panic and fire.
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CLICK HEREWitness Accounts
- A friend, Matt Riordan, tried to save the passengers.
- Door buttons did not respond.
- He smashed a window with a tree branch, managing to pull out only one passenger.
- Nelson survived the crash but died in the fire because he could not escape.
Attorney Matthew Davis said:
“Jack Nelson survived the impact. What killed him was the fact that he couldn’t get out of the car.”
Lawsuits and Allegations
The lawsuits accuse Tesla of:
- Negligence in safety design.
- Failing to provide a visible, accessible manual release.
- Ignoring warnings and complaints from customers and rescue workers over the past decade.
Attorney Roger Dreyer, representing the Tsukahara family, declared:
“Tesla is a trillion-dollar company that launched a machine that is unsafe in many ways. What should have been a survivable accident turned into a death by fire.”
The families are seeking financial compensation (amount not yet disclosed) and exemplary damages to hold Tesla accountable.
Federal Investigation
This controversy coincides with an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into the 2021 Tesla Model Y. Regulators are analyzing whether electronic locks prevent emergency escapes when the car loses power.
Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, admitted recently that the company is working on new designs that combine electronic and manual systems into a single, easier-to-use mechanism.
Comparison: Tesla’s Current vs. Proposed Safety System
| Feature | Current Cybertruck (at crash time) | Planned Redesign (future) |
|---|---|---|
| Door mechanism | Fully electronic with hidden manual release | Combined electronic + manual system |
| Manual release visibility | Hidden under floor mat, difficult to access | Expected to be more visible and intuitive |
| Emergency usability | Requires multiple steps, nearly impossible under fire/smoke | Promised one-step system |
| Safety complaints | Reported for over a decade | Tesla acknowledges need for redesign |
What Tesla Says
Tesla has not issued any official comment regarding the lawsuits. The company also declined responses to media outlets including Bloomberg and The Independent.
Growing Pressure
The lawsuits highlight broader concerns over electric vehicle safety standards, particularly regarding battery fires and emergency exits. Regulators, consumer advocates, and families of victims are calling for:
- Stricter federal safety regulations for EVs.
- Mandatory visible manual release mechanisms.
- Faster adoption of improved designs.
For Tesla, the Cybertruck—once a symbol of futuristic innovation—is now also a symbol of controversy and tragedy.
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