Overview

• Wrongful-death complaints filed Thursday add Tesla as a defendant over the Nov. 27, 2024 crash that killed Krysta Tsukahara, 19, and Jack Nelson, 20.
• Both lawsuits argue the Cybertruck’s electric door system failed after impact and that the rear manual release cable was concealed beneath a door-pocket mat.
• A witness broke a window with a tree branch and pulled one occupant to safety, while three passengers died of smoke inhalation after the truck ignited.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary probe in September into Tesla door operability after stuck-door complaints on other models.
• Investigators previously reported excessive speed and driver impairment as crash factors, while plaintiffs contend the door design turned a survivable collision into a fatal fire.