Daijiworld Media Network - California

California, Oct 3: The parents of Krysta Tsukahara, a 19-year-old college student, have filed a lawsuit against Tesla, alleging that a design flaw in the company’s Cybertruck contributed to their daughter’s death in a fiery crash. According to the suit, Tsukahara was trapped in the vehicle as flames and smoke engulfed it, unable to open the doors due to a defect that allegedly prevents them from functioning if the battery is destroyed or inoperable during a fire.

The accident occurred when the driver, reportedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs, crashed the Cybertruck into a tree in a San Francisco suburb. Three of the four occupants, including the driver, died in the crash. A fourth passenger was rescued after a bystander broke a window.

The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, claims Tesla knew of the flaw for years and failed to address it, leaving the student to die in horrific conditions. The case adds to growing legal scrutiny of the company, coming weeks after federal regulators launched an investigation into similar complaints of back doors getting stuck, sometimes forcing drivers to break windows to rescue passengers.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This lawsuit follows previous high-profile cases, including a Florida jury awarding over $240 million to the family of another college student killed in a Tesla accident.