3 killed, 1 injured in Tesla Cybertruck crash in northern California

Robert Besser
2nd December 2024, 

PIEDMONT, California: A tragic crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in Northern California left three people dead and one seriously injured early November 27, according to local authorities.

Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers stated that speed likely played a role in the single-vehicle crash, though investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:10 a.m. as the Cybertruck's occupants were returning from a "function." Details about the function or the identities of the victims were not disclosed out of respect for the families. However, someone traveling in a separate car after attending the same function managed to rescue the lone survivor from the burning vehicle.

Firefighters arrived quickly to extinguish the flames, as responding police officers' fire extinguishers were insufficient to control the blaze. Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan noted that the quick containment indicated the Cybertruck's lithium-ion battery likely did not ignite, describing the incident as "more along the lines of a typical car fire."

Chief Bowers also addressed concerns about the Cybertruck's history of safety recalls, emphasizing, "There's no indication that there were mechanical defects that were the primary cause for the collision."

The Tesla Cybertruck, which has been available for purchase for about a year, has faced six recalls since its release. The most recent recall on Nov. 5 involved a faulty electric inverter that could lead to power loss in the drive wheels.

Previous recalls addressed issues such as delayed rearview camera activation, falling trim pieces, malfunctioning windshield wipers, and incorrect font sizes for warning lights on the instrument panel. In April, the trucks were also recalled due to gas pedals potentially becoming stuck in interior trim.

The city of Piedmont, where the crash occurred, is located roughly 2.5 miles northeast of Oakland. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.