A 20-year-old college student has filed a lawsuit against Tesla after his vehicle burst into flames following a collision, resulting in catastrophic injuries. Jay Kharbanda, a biochemistry major at Stony Brook University, claims that a defective battery design caused his 2024 Tesla Model 3 to become a fireball after a crash with a utility pole on Long Island.
The Incident
On June 30, 2025, Kharbanda was driving home in Dix Hills, approximately 40 miles east of Manhattan, when another vehicle turned in front of him. The collision sent his Tesla into a pole at the intersection of Old Country Road and Newtown Road in Plainview. According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Brooklyn, Kharbanda lost consciousness upon impact. He later told the New York Post, 'I just remember getting hit, and that's it.'
Battery Failure and Fire
The lawsuit alleges that the crash caused the car's high-voltage lithium-ion battery to fail 'catastrophically,' triggering a phenomenon known as thermal runaway. This occurs when overheating battery cells ignite one another in a rapidly escalating chain reaction. Kharbanda's lawyer, Scott Epstein, described the vehicle as 'a literal hell on earth.'
Video footage of the crash shows flames shooting from the red Tesla while Kharbanda lay injured on the ground. He suffered third- and fourth-degree burns, underwent four surgeries, and had several toes on his left foot amputated. His medical bills have already exceeded $800,000.
Escape and Recovery
Kharbanda does not recall how he escaped the burning car. He was later told that the doors malfunctioned, and bystanders smashed a window to pull him to safety. He woke up at Nassau University Medical Center, where he spent two months undergoing painful treatment, including multiple skin grafts and daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy. He reported coughing up black soot for weeks.
Impact on Life
The former high school sprinter now suffers from severe burns to his lower legs, face, and left hand, torn knee ligaments, and the loss of toes. He no longer drives, relying on Uber or rides from his parents. 'I don't think it's worth it,' he said. His father, Gagan Kharbanda, expressed the family's devastation, stating, 'I lost my whole world when I saw him.'
Legal Action
Kharbanda is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages to hold Tesla accountable. Tesla has not responded to requests for comment from the New York Post or Daily Mail. Kharbanda hopes his case will prompt Tesla to recognize that their cars are not as safe as claimed.
