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The sole survivor of a fiery Cybertruck crash that left three others dead in 2024 is suing Tesla
Jordan Miller alleges that the design of Tesla’s electronic door system prevented him and his friends from getting out of the burning Cybertruck when it crashed just before Thanksgiving
Miller was injured in the tragedy, while his friends — Soren Dixon, 19, Jack Nelson, 20, and Krysta Tsukahara, 19 — all died
The sole survivor of a fiery Cybertruck crash that left three others dead is suing Tesla, claiming that the design of the car’s door system prevented occupants from escaping.
Attorneys filed a complaint in Alameda County, Calif., on Monday, March 16, alleging that the design of Tesla’s electronic door system prevented Jordan Miller from getting out of the burning Cybertruck when it crashed just before Thanksgiving in 2024.
Miller and his three high school friends — Soren Dixon, 19, Jack Nelson, 20, and Krysta Tsukahara, 19 — were home from college for the holiday when they crashed in Piedmont, Calif., on Nov. 27, according to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
The car struck a tree just after 3 a.m. local time, when Dixon was driving. Miller was in the passenger seat, and both Nelson and Tsukahara were in the back seat. Dixon, Nelson and Tsukahara all died.
A Tesla sign.
Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty
The Cybertruck caught fire almost instantly, the complaint states. Witnesses said the flames grew to around 10 feet tall around the car.
A friend, who had been following the four individuals in a separate car, quickly reached the scene, but he could not get the Cybertruck’s door open, per the complaint.
The friend grabbed a nearby tree branch and began hitting the front window until the glass broke. He then pulled Miller to safety, but could not reach the other three occupants.
A Tesla Cybertruck.
Credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty
Attorneys for Miller wrote in the complaint that Cybertruck’s lack of exterior mechanical door handles is a design flaw that caused the deaths of the three friends.
The car’s system instead relies on electronic buttons powered by the vehicle’s low-voltage electrical system.
“A friend was right there within seconds,” Annie Wu, one of the attorneys representing Miller, said in a press release obtained by PEOPLE. “He couldn’t open the doors. No handles. The buttons weren’t working.”
“Jordan was trapped in a burning vehicle when he didn’t have to be,” the lawyer added. “That is a design problem.”
In addition to Tesla, the complaint also names Dixon’s estate, as well as Charles Patterson, the owner of the Cybertruck, who was a relative of Dixon.
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At the time of the crash, Dixon was drunk and had a blood alcohol level of 0.195%, the San Francisco Standard and NBC News Bay Area reported, citing autopsy reports. He also had cocaine in his system, per the outlets.
The complaint states that Miller sustained severe injuries from the crash and was placed in a five-day coma.
He suffered burns to his airways and lungs, as well as third-degree burns on his left leg and hand. About half of his colon was removed, and Miller also had four fractured vertebrae requiring fusion with implants, among other injuries.
Miller’s lawyers also said he suffered “emotional and psychological trauma.”
Attorneys for Miller are bringing claims for negligence, design defect, failure to warn and failure to recall against Tesla, alleging that the company, founded by Elon Musk, has known about the risk of trapping occupants for more than 10 years.
The legal representation is also bringing negligence and negligent entrustment claims against Patterson and Dixon’s estate.
“When you design a vehicle with no mechanical way to open the doors from the outside, you are betting the electronics will work in every scenario, including a high-speed crash followed by a fire,” attorney Anthony L. Label said in the news release. “Someone was there to help immediately. He couldn’t get in. This lawsuit is about what Tesla knew and what Tesla designed.”
Tesla did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The company has denied any wrongdoing in court filings, according to The Guardian. Tesla has said the Cybertruck “is compliant with federal safety standards and the company has satisfied its duty to warn customers about the risks and dangers of using its product,” the outlet reported.
Read the original article on People
