A 20-year-old man’s final moments inside a burning Tesla are at the center of a new lawsuit alleging that faulty electronic doors prevented him from escaping after a crash.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Samuel Tremblett made a frantic 911 call in October after crashing his Tesla Model Y roughly 30 miles outside Boston. The transcript of that call was included in a wrongful death lawsuit filed this week in Massachusetts federal court.
“I can’t get out, please help me,” Tremblett told the dispatcher. “It’s on fire. Help please. I am going to die.”
The lawsuit claims that although Tremblett survived the initial crash in Easton, Massachusetts, he was unable to open the electrically powered doors of his vehicle. Investigators later found his remains in the back seat.
According to the complaint, Tremblett was trapped inside the vehicle and died from burns and smoke inhalation before first responders could reach him.
The suit names electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, alleging that the company’s door design created a dangerous risk for occupants following collisions.
The case is the latest in a growing number of lawsuits accusing Tesla of producing vehicles that can trap passengers when electronic systems fail after crashes.
Bloomberg previously identified at least 15 deaths over the past decade in which occupants or rescuers were reportedly unable to open Tesla doors after vehicles caught fire.
Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
Tesla vehicles operate using two battery systems. A low-voltage battery powers interior systems such as doors, windows, and the touchscreen, while a high-voltage battery powers the drivetrain.
If the low-voltage battery is damaged or disabled in a crash, the electronic door system may fail. In those situations, occupants must rely on manual mechanical releases located inside the vehicle.
However, safety advocates say many drivers and passengers are unaware of where these releases are located or how to use them in emergencies.
The lawsuit argues that this lack of awareness, combined with electronic failures, can prove deadly in fire-related crashes.
In response to mounting concerns, Tesla has begun making changes. In September, a senior company executive announced plans to redesign door handles. By December, Tesla updated its website to state that after detecting a serious collision, hazard lights activate and “doors will automatically unlock for emergency access.”
Despite these changes, critics say the company has not gone far enough.
Breitbart News previously reported on another lawsuit involving a Tesla Cybertruck crash in Piedmont, California, in which three college students died after allegedly being trapped inside.
Attorney Roger Dreyer, who represents the victims’ families, called the incident a “horror story” and accused Tesla of failing to fix a known problem.
“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.”
That lawsuit cited more than 30 publicized incidents involving Tesla door failures. It also claimed that one victim survived the initial crash but could not escape after power was lost.
The issue has now drawn international regulatory attention.
China has issued new rules banning concealed exterior door handles and requiring mechanical releases. European regulators have also signaled plans to accelerate safety regulations related to electronic door systems.
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced in September that it was investigating potential defects in certain Model Y vehicles after reports of exterior handles failing.
In December, the agency said it would review a request for a defect probe filed by a Georgia driver who claimed he had to kick his way out of his burning Model 3.
Safety experts say Tremblett’s case highlights broader concerns about reliance on electronic systems in emergency situations.
The lawsuit seeks damages and calls for greater accountability and stronger safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Attorneys for the Tremblett family argue that no driver should face death simply because they cannot open a car door after surviving a crash.
