Piedmont, California — A tragic early morning crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck claimed the lives of three individuals and left one seriously injured in Northern California, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The single-vehicle accident occurred around 3:10 a.m. as the Cybertruck’s occupants were returning from an unspecified event. Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers indicated that excessive speed was likely a factor in the crash but noted that an investigation is ongoing to determine all contributing causes. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed.
The injured individual was rescued from the vehicle by another attendee of the event who had been traveling in a separate car. The police reported that their initial efforts to extinguish the vehicle fire were unsuccessful, but the Piedmont Fire Department quickly managed to bring it under control.
Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan remarked that the nature of the blaze suggested it was “a typical car fire” and not linked to the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery, alleviating fears of a battery-related inferno.
Despite recent safety concerns surrounding the Cybertruck, Chief Bowers stated, “There’s no indication that there were mechanical effects that were the primary cause for the collision.” The Cybertruck has been on the market for about a year and has faced six safety recalls, including one earlier this month related to a defect in its electric inverter that could lead to a loss of power to the drive wheels.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash and its circumstances, urging the public to adhere to safe driving practices to prevent further tragedies.