Three high school friends killed and another injured after Tesla crashes and catches fire

On By Littum

Three high school friends died and one person was injured after the TeslaCybertruck they were riding in crashed and caught fire in California.

The accident happened around 3 a.m. at Hampton Road and King Avenue, a residential area in Piedmont, about 12 miles outside of San Francisco. Moments after the car caught fire, the driver of another car pulled up to the scene and pulled a person out of the vehicle. Officials tried to douse the fire after arriving at the scene but were unsuccessful.

The injured person was transported to a nearby hospital where he was sedated and is said to be recovering from post-surgery burns. Two of the victims who died were men and one was a woman, a mother close to the victims’ families told ABC 7, adding that they were all very popular soccer players.

Aileen Desoto delivered flowers at the scene of the accident after the incident. She has lived in the city for 12 years and knows the people involved.

All of the victims graduated from Piedmont High School in 2023 and were sophomores in college, she told the magazine.

“We’re just devastated. I know the family whose son is in the hospital right now. I know the other families,” Desoto said. Speaking of the surviving victim, she said, “I know he’s had surgery. He is recovering. He had some burns. He is under sedation. So we hope he recovers.

A Tesla Cybertruck on display at Tesla in Buena Park, California in December 2023
A Tesla Cybertruck on display at Tesla in Buena Park, California in December 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The victims’ middle school teacher, Sandy Martin, described the victims as “smart” and “good kids” who supported their friends.

It’s not clear what caused the crash, but police say a truck “jumped the curb, hit a cement wall and then wedged itself between the wall and a tree.” Speed ​​was likely a factor in the incident, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers told reporters. Officials will work to determine if drugs and alcohol may have been involved in the crash.

There are no signs that the car has had mechanical problems.

“Due to the quick nature of being able to suppress the fire, we do not believe the vehicle’s primary lithium battery caught fire. However, that will be determined as part of the investigation,” said city Fire Chief David Brannigan.

An iPhone inside the car alerted officials to the accident. The police chief said the victims came from a “function” but gave no further details.

“Our women and men who responded to this call did everything they could, it’s devastating,” Chief Bowers said. “But the devastation (to officers) pales in comparison to what these families are dealing with this morning, the day before Thanksgiving.”