PIEDMONT, California — A tragic incident unfolded early Wednesday as a Tesla Cybertruck crashed and ignited, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and leaving another with serious injuries, according to local authorities.
Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers indicated that excessive speed is believed to have contributed to the single-vehicle accident, though he emphasized that the investigation would continue to uncover more details surrounding the horrific event.
The occupants of the Cybertruck were reportedly returning home from a gathering around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday. However, Chief Bowers did not disclose further specifics about the function. A witness from the gathering, who was driving a separate vehicle, managed to rescue the sole survivor from the wreckage of the Cybertruck.
Due to the sensitivity surrounding the situation, the chief refrained from releasing any information regarding the identities of the victims, respecting their family’s need for privacy.
Despite police officers at the scene being unable to put out the flames with their fire extinguishers, the fire department responded swiftly and extinguished the blaze. Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan noted that the quick response made it unlikely that the Cybertruck’s sizable lithium-ion battery was the source of the fire, describing the occurrence as resembling a standard vehicle fire.
In response to inquiries about recent recalls affecting the Cybertruck, Chief Bowers stated that there were no signs indicating that mechanical failures played a significant role in causing the crash.
The Cybertruck has been available for purchase for roughly a year and has already been subject to six safety recalls. The most recent recall, issued on November 5, addressed an issue related to the electric inverter that could lead to a loss of power in the drive wheels.
Other recalls have involved problems such as delayed activation of rearview camera images upon shifting into reverse, issues with falling trim pieces, windshield wiper failures, and incorrect font sizes on instrument panel warnings. Additionally, in April, there was a recall to rectify a problem with gas pedals potentially getting stuck due to interference from the interior trim.
Piedmont is located approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) northeast of Oakland.