Design flaws caused a Tesla Model 3 to suddenly accelerate out of control before it crashed into a utility pole and burst into flames, killing a woman and severely injuring her husband, a lawsuit filed in federal court alleges.
Another defect, with the door handle design, thwarted bystanders who were trying to rescue the driver, Jeff Dennis, and his wife, Wendy, from the car, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Wendy Dennis died in the Jan. 7, 2023, crash in Tacoma, Washington. Jeff Dennis suffered severe leg burns and other injuries, according to the lawsuit.
This is a reminder that if you own a car, get a window breaker/seat belt cutter tool, and keep it in an easy-to-reach location in your car. They cost less than $10. After a crash, doors can get stuck or they may be locked, and seat belts may be hard to disengage. These tools are not only useful for your own car. If any bystander had that tool, they could have assisted regardless of the car model.
Teslas have laminated side windows, so they break more like a windshield. They would still need to be cut away somehow after breaking them