A COLLEGE student died in a blazing Tesla Cybertruck after becoming trapped inside when the doors allegedly failed to open, a lawsuit filed by her parents has claimed.
Krysta Michelle Tsukahara was one of three young people killed when the futuristic car slammed into a tree and exploded in Piedmont, California, last November.
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Krysta, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design, was only 19 when she tragically died.
Her parents, Carl and Noelle Tsukahara, have since filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court.
They claim Tesla — run by billionaire Elon Musk — knew for years its battery-powered doors could jam in a crash but failed to act.
Krysta’s grieving dad told KTVU Fox 2: “Krysta was a bright, kind, and accomplished young woman with her whole life ahead of her.
“We’ve had to endure not only the loss of our daughter, but the silence surrounding how this happened and why she couldn’t get out.
“This company is worth a trillion dollars, how can you release a machine that’s not safe in so many ways?”
Carl previously told The New York Times that if it hadn’t been so hard to escape, his daughter might still be alive.
The 36-page lawsuit alleged Krysta, sitting in the back seat, survived the initial high-speed impact with only minor injuries.
But when the Cybertruck’s massive battery ignited, she couldn’t escape the inferno – the vehicle allegedly lost power, disabling its electronic doors.
While a manual release exists, the suit says it was “too difficult to find” in the smoke and chaos.
As fire engulfed the cabin, Krysta allegedly “suffered unimaginable pain and emotional distress”.
Family attorney Roger Dreyer blasted the design: “This lawsuit is about truth and accountability.
“The design of this vehicle failed Krysta.
“There was no functioning, accessible manual override or emergency release for her to escape. Her death was preventable.”
A fourth passenger, Jordan Miller, survived only after a bystander smashed a window with a tree branch and pulled him free.
Police say the Cybertruck was driven by 19-year-old Soren Dixon — a friend of Krysta’s and fellow Piedmont High graduate.
According to cops, he had a blood alcohol level of 0.195, more than twice California’s legal limit, and cocaine in his system.
Dixon and another passenger, 20-year-old Jack Nelson, died with Krysta.
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary report blamed the crash on “a deadly combination of alcohol intoxication, drug impairment and unsafe speed.”
The case adds to growing scrutiny of Tesla’s futuristic door systems.
Federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation last month after multiple complaints from drivers who say they couldn’t open rear doors to rescue children, sometimes smashing windows instead.
Critics argue Tesla’s power-dependent locks are risky in fires and crashes, especially if the manual override isn’t clearly marked or intuitive.
Tesla has not commented on the latest lawsuit.
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