3 college students die trapped in burning Cybertruck, reports say. Lawsuits filed
The families of two California college students have filed wrongful death lawsuits after they say the students were trapped to death inside a burning Cybertruck.
The family of 20-year-old Jack Nelson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla and several individuals on Oct. 2, following an April 23 wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of 20-year-old Krysta Michelle Tsukahara.
McClatchy News reached out to Tesla for comment Oct. 7 but did not immediately hear back.
On Nov. 27, 2024, Soren Mangseth Dixon was driving a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck with three passengers inside, according to a civil complaint. Dixon lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree and retaining wall, the complaint said.
When the Cybertruck came to a rest, it quickly caught on fire, the complaint said.
In the back seat sat Tsukahara and Nelson. Dixon was in the driver seat and the third passenger sat in the front passenger seat, according to KRON.
“The four young people in the Cybertruck were close friends and outstanding individuals, each on the verge of making meaningful contributions to the world. They were all victims of Tesla’s unsafe design,” a statement from Nelson’s attorney said.
Both Tsukahara and Nelson survived the initial crash, suffering non-life-threatening injuries, their attorneys said. However, after the crash, the four occupants became trapped as the Cybertruck burned, attorneys said.
The left side of the vehicle was blocked by a retaining wall, making it impossible to open the door, Nelson’s civil complaint said. The right rear passenger door was openable, but the electronic buttons failed and there were no handles on the outside to open the door, the complaint said.
Rescuers couldn’t get inside, and Tsukahara and the passengers couldn’t get out, Tsukahara’s civil complaint said.
“Inside, the backup mechanical release for that door was concealed beneath the liner of the map pocket at the bottom of the door — hidden, unlabeled, and impractical to locate or use in the smoke and chaos of a post-crash fire. As a result, the Cybertruck’s design left Jack and the other occupants with no practical way to escape,” Nelson’s attorney said.
A good Samaritan was able to break the bullet-proof window on the front passenger side with a tree branch, KRON reported. They pulled the front passenger out and unsuccessfully tried to rescue Tsukahara.
Ultimately, Dixon, Nelson and Tsukahara died.
“Jack Nelson did not die from the crash; he died because Tesla’s design left him with no practical means of escape,” the lawsuit filed by his family said.
Nelson and Tsukahara both died from smoke inhalation, according to their attorneys.
Victims remembered
“Krysta was a bright, kind, and accomplished young woman with her whole life ahead of her,” her father, Carl Tsukahara, said in a news release from attorneys. “We’ve had to endure not only the loss of our daughter, but the silence surrounding how this happened and why she couldn’t get out. This company is worth a trillion dollars – how can you release a machine that’s not safe in so many ways?”
Dixon’s family released a statement to the city of Piedmont in December.
“Soren had a boundless enthusiasm for life and was known for his infectious smile, his love of family and friends, his passion for sports, and his deep affection for all animals, especially his dog, Ruby. Soren lit up a room, made friends easily, smiled and laughed often, and had a unique ability to make everyone feel welcomed and valued,” Dixon’s family said.
Nelson’s family told the city he was an “exceptional athlete” who loved the outdoors and liked going on adventures “from the ocean to the mountains.”
The civil complaints detail past fatal incidents involving occupants becoming trapped inside Cybertrucks.
Both lawsuits list Dixon’s estate as a defendant, however, Nelson’s attorney told McClatchy News “because of the way the law works, the Nelsons were also required to name two estates as defendants. They do not seek to punish any families.”
Tsukahara and Nelson’s families are each asking for an undetermined amount in damages.
