The family of a 19-year-old college student has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, claiming the design of the Cybertruck's electronic doors created a "death trap" that prevented their daughter from escaping a fiery crash last November.
Krysta Tsukahara was among three occupants who were killed when the Cybertruck, travelling at high speed, crashed in Piedmont, California, and hit a tree, which burst into flames.
The lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court said the impact of the crash had disconnected the electronic door system on the vehicle, leaving all four inside trapped as flames surrounded the cabin.
The lawsuit also claims that the emergency release mechanisms in the Cybertruck are carelessly inaccessible, as passengers must remove a storage compartment liner and pull a hidden cable to open a rear door that lacks power, making it almost impossible to accomplish in the event of an emergency.
“The design of this vehicle failed Krysta,” said Roger Dreyer, the family attorney.
“There was no functioning, accessible manual override for her to escape,” she added.
The report by the California Highway Patrol confirmed that the death of Tsukahara was caused by smoke inhalation and burns instead of impact trauma, and her parents reported that she was alive after the accident and called the police.
The case puts a spotlight on continuous doubts surrounding Tesla's flush electronic door handles, which are the subject of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Although the Cybertruck has already been rated highly in controlled testing in terms of safety, the occurrence of this incident raises questions about the possibility of failure in real-life situations.
Modern cars are facing a critical safety issue of striking the right balance between smooth design and reliable emergency escape routes, as highlighted by the tragedy.