The parents of a 19-year-old woman killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash last November have filed a lawsuit against the electric vehicle maker, alleging the design of the door handles prevented her escape. Krysta Tsukahara died of smoke inhalation and burns after the vehicle struck a tree and caught fire in Piedmont, California, on 27 November 2024.
The suit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court on Thursday, claims that when the crash disabled the vehicle's electrical system, the doors locked automatically, trapping the four occupants inside. The rear doors lack a manual override accessible to passengers, with the only release mechanism hidden beneath a storage compartment liner, according to court documents.
Attorney Roger Dreyer, representing the Tsukahara family, stated: 'The design of this vehicle failed Krysta. There was no functioning, accessible manual override or emergency release for her to escape.' The lawsuit argues that Tesla had prior knowledge of the entrapment risk posed by its electronic door systems, citing complaints from owners and first responders.
The Cybertruck's flush door handles, a signature design element promoted by CEO Elon Musk, have drawn scrutiny from safety experts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating the system. Tesla has issued eight recalls for the Cybertruck since its launch less than two years ago.
The family is also suing the estate of the driver, Soren Dixon, who died in the crash. A coroner's report found he was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and amphetamines. A friend who witnessed the accident broke a window to rescue one passenger but could not save Tsukahara, who was alive after the crash but unable to escape the flames.
In a statement, Tsukahara's parents, Carl and Noelle, said: 'Her death was preventable. She was alive after the crash. She called out for help. And she couldn't get out.'
