3 Killed, 1 Seriously Injured in Tesla Cybertruck Crash in Northern California
PIEDMONT, Calif. (AP) — A tragic crash early Wednesday morning in Northern California left three people dead and one seriously injured when a Tesla Cybertruck crashed and caught fire.
Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers confirmed that speed appeared to be a factor in the single-vehicle collision, though an investigation into the cause is ongoing.
The occupants of the Cybertruck were returning from a “function” around 3:10 a.m., but Chief Bowers declined to provide further details. A person who had attended the same event but was driving a separate car managed to pull the surviving victim out of the wreckage.
The identities of the victims have not been released, as authorities are respecting family privacy.
Although police were unable to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers, the local fire department was able to put out the fire quickly. Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan noted that the quick response suggested the fire was likely not caused by the Cybertruck’s large lithium-ion battery, describing it more as a “typical car fire.”
Regarding the cause of the crash, Chief Bowers emphasized that there was no indication that recent Cybertruck recalls were a factor. However, he noted that investigations would continue.
The Tesla Cybertruck, which has been on sale for about a year, has been recalled multiple times for various safety issues. The most recent recall on November 5 addressed a fault in the electric inverter that could cause the drive wheels to lose power. Previous recalls have addressed problems with rearview camera images, trim pieces that may fall off, faulty windshield wipers, and even gas pedals that could become stuck.
Piedmont is located about 2.5 miles (4 km) northeast of Oakland.
