[11-29-2024] – Three dead, one hospitalized following Cybertruck crash in California

California – Tragically, three individuals have lost their lives, and a fourth is hospitalized with serious injuries after a Tesla Cybertruck was involved in a collision, which caused the vehicle to catch fire in northern California, according to authorities.

During a press conference, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers from Piedmont, a city of approximately 10,600 residents located just outside of Oakland, Calif., stated that the accident took place at the intersection of Hampton Road and King Avenue shortly after 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. Chief Bowers noted that there is no evidence pointing to a mechanical failure as a significant factor, although speed appears to have played a role.

Bowers indicated that the four individuals had departed an unspecified event in the Cybertruck shortly before the collision. An iPhone located inside the vehicle alerted police at 3:08 a.m., prompting a swift response.

Officers arrived on the scene just two minutes later to find the vehicle “fully engulfed in flames,” with a bystander attempting to rescue an occupant. Efforts by the officers to extinguish the fire using portable extinguishers were unsuccessful due to the fire’s severity.

Firefighters arrived promptly at 3:16 a.m. and successfully managed to douse the flames, as noted by Piedmont Fire Chief David Brannigan. “Due to the quick nature of being able to suppress the fire, we don’t think the main lithium batteries were on fire, but that’s going to be determined by the investigation,” he stated.

The only survivor from the incident was rescued from the Cybertruck by a motorist who may have been attending the same event as the victims, as explained by Chief Bowers. Brannigan declared that the unidentified motorist “probably saved a life.” He expressed appreciation, saying, “It’s good to know that somebody was willing to help.”

At this time, the identities of the deceased have not been released to respect the privacy of their families, according to Bowers.

Chief Bowers conveyed the gravity of the situation on the local community, expressing, “This is a very tight-knit community, and this is a community that is going to rally around members that are affected by this tragedy… But there’s no doubt this is going to be immensely impactful for this community. It already has been and will continue to be so.”