19-year-old arts student Krysta Tsukahara was a very gifted young person. Tragically, she ended up dying in an autonomous car crash with a Cybertruck in a San Francisco suburb. The driver then drove the vehicle into a tree. According to various reports, at the time he committed the crime, he was drunk and high on drugs. At the time of the crash, Tsukahara was sitting in the rear seat of the Cybertruck. Sadly, the collision led to the deaths of three of the four people in the vehicle.
Per news accounts, the driver lost control of the pickup truck, resulting in the deadly crash—with no other vehicles involved. In the aftermath of that crash, emergency responders were able to rescue a fourth passenger by breaking a window. Tsukahara and two others later died, suffering burns from flames and inhalation of toxic fumes.
Tsukahara’s parents have since filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, alleging that the company has long been aware of a design flaw in the vehicle’s doors that trapped their daughter as the car burned. They contend that this failing posed a substantial danger. Further, they think that the company had a relatively easy fix for it but simply didn’t want to do that. The New York Times was first to cover the lawsuit. Surprisingly, it highlights a deeply concerning pattern of safety issues related to the Cybertruck.
This case closely resembles the recent case of a Florida jury. They recently settled with the family of another college student who was killed in a different Tesla crash by a runaway vehicle for more than $240 million. These cases pose troubling questions about vehicle safety and manufacturer accountability, as electric vehicle technology continues to expand into more common use among consumers.
The untimely passing of Krysta Tsukahara has opened up an important conversation. It’s time to hold the automotive industry accountable for the safety of their vehicle. As investigations continue, her family seeks justice not only for their loss but for potential changes that could prevent similar tragedies in the future.
