Tesla Model Y Crash Fire Traps 20-Year-Old Driver, Raising Fresh Safety Concerns Over Electric Door Handles

On February 5, a Tesla Model Y crashed and caught fire in the Boston suburbs of Massachusetts. The 20-year-old owner, Samuel Tremblay, survived the initial impact and called 911 for help, but became trapped inside the vehicle when the doors failed to open, ultimately dying from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation. Police reports stated that his body was found in the rear seat. This incident has become the latest case alleging that Tesla’s electric door handles failed during a crash, leading to a fatality. A previous Bloomberg investigation revealed that since 2012, at least 15 people have died in Tesla crashes after being unable to open the doors. Although many automakers use electric door handles, Tesla has received the most complaints related to this issue. Currently, around 70 vehicle models in the U.S. feature this design.