The parents of two college students who died in a Tesla crash have filed lawsuits alleging that a design flaw prevented their children from escaping the burning vehicle. The suits, submitted Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court, claim that Tesla was aware of the issue for years but failed to address it promptly.
According to the lawsuits, Krysta Tsukahara, 19, and Jack Nelson, 20, were riding in the back seat of a Cybertruck in November 2024 when the driver—who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs—crashed into a tree in Piedmont, California. Both students and the driver died at the scene. A fourth passenger survived after being pulled out by a rescuer who broke a window.
“The company that helped Elon Musk become the world’s richest man knew about the flaw for years and could have moved faster to fix the problem but did not, leaving the two trapped amid flames and smoke that eventually killed them,” according to statements from the parents included in court filings.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
These legal actions follow recent developments involving federal regulators opening an investigation into reports from Tesla drivers about doors becoming stuck. This investigation coincides with efforts by Tesla to reassure consumers about its vehicles’ safety as it develops autonomous driving features.
The New York Times was first to report on Tsukahara’s family’s lawsuit against Tesla.
Tesla’s door mechanisms have previously been cited as problematic during crashes because fires can destroy battery power needed for unlocking doors. The manual override releases are reportedly hard to locate in emergencies.
This lawsuit is one among several targeting Tesla over alleged safety concerns. In August 2024, a Florida jury awarded more than $240 million in damages to another family whose college-aged child died due to issues with a runaway Tesla.
