A wrongful death lawsuit filed in the United States has raised serious concerns over vehicle safety after a 20-year-old university student allegedly died trapped inside a burning Tesla following a road accident.
The lawsuit, filed by the victim’s mother, claims that the electronic door handles of a Tesla Model Y failed after a crash in Massachusetts, preventing her son, Samuel Tremblett, from escaping the vehicle.
Distress call moments after crash
Court documents describe a distressing emergency call made shortly after the accident, in which the young driver reportedly told the operator that he was trapped inside the car and struggling to breathe as flames spread. He is said to have pleaded for immediate help, fearing he would not survive.
The crash occurred in the early hours of October 29, 2025, when the vehicle crossed lanes and struck a tree. While the impact itself was survivable, the car caught fire soon afterwards, according to investigators.
Door handle design under scrutiny
The lawsuit alleges that Tesla’s flush-mounted electronic door handles failed due to power loss following the collision. It claims the design is defective and unreasonably dangerous, especially during emergencies involving fire or electrical failure.
Although Tesla vehicles include a manual door release, the complaint argues that it is not clearly marked or intuitive enough to be used in high-stress situations.
Wider safety concerns raised
Police reportedly arrived quickly but were unable to rescue the driver due to the intensity of the fire, which took hours to extinguish. The lawsuit cites at least 15 similar deaths since 2016 involving Tesla vehicles where occupants were allegedly unable to exit after crashes.
US safety regulators are currently investigating nearly 200,000 Tesla vehicles over door handle safety issues. Separately, China has announced a nationwide ban on automated car door handles, citing potential risks to passengers.
Tesla has not issued a public response to the lawsuit at the time of filing.