The parents of a 19-year-old California woman killed in a fiery Tesla Cybertruck crash last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, claiming the vehicle’s door handle design prevented their daughter from escaping the burning wreck.
Carl and Noelle Tsukahara filed the suit in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging Tesla’s electronic door system failed after the crash, trapping their daughter, Krysta Tsukahara, inside. The November 2024 accident in Piedmont, California, killed three people — driver Soren Dixon, 19, passenger Jack Nelson, 20, and Krysta Tsukahara. A fourth occupant survived after a witness broke a window with a tree branch to pull them out.
The lawsuit argues Tesla’s Cybertruck doors are powered by a 12-volt battery that can lose power during collisions, rendering the electronic handles inoperable. It also contends that the interior manual release is “hidden and difficult to locate,” leaving passengers unable to escape in emergencies.
Attorney Roger Dreyer, representing the Tsukaharas, called the case a “horror story,” accusing Tesla of ignoring known safety flaws. “Tesla knows that it’s happened and that it’s going to happen,” Dreyer said. “They are doing nothing but selling the car with a system that entraps people and doesn’t provide a way of extraction.”
The 36-page complaint cites over 30 similar cases of Tesla door malfunctions, alleging Krysta survived the impact but died from smoke inhalation and burns because she could not open the door.
Tesla has not commented on the lawsuit. Federal regulators are already investigating the automaker for door issues linked to its Model Y SUVs, adding pressure on the company’s safety practices.
The California Highway Patrol determined that speeding and impairment were factors in the Piedmont crash, noting alcohol and cocaine were found in the victims’ systems. However, Dreyer insists Tesla bears responsibility for a design that “entombed” the occupants.
The Tsukaharas are seeking punitive damages, accusing Tesla of negligence and “conscious disregard” for consumer safety. Reports suggest Tesla is considering redesigning its door handles amid growing concerns about electronic failures trapping passengers.
