Why is the Tremblett family suing Tesla?

The Tremblett family is suing Tesla for wrongful death, alleging that defective electronic door handles trapped their son, Samuel Tremblett, inside his car when it crashed and caught fire.

What happened to Samuel Tremblett in his Tesla?

Samuel Tremblett died in October after crashing his 2021 Tesla Model Y, which then burst into flames and trapped him inside due to allegedly malfunctioning electric door handles.

Are there other reports of people trapped in Teslas?

Yes, the lawsuit cites seventeen other reports from 2016 to 2025 where Tesla vehicle occupants were allegedly trapped in their cars after crashes.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Deadly Tesla Fire: 'I can't get out,' he cried

Deadly Tesla Fire: 'I can't get out,' he cried

8 Feb

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Summary

A grieving mother filed suit alleging defective Tesla door handles
Her son died calling 911, trapped in a burning electric car
Seventeen other reports cited passengers trapped in Teslas

Deadly Tesla Fire: 'I can't get out,' he cried

The family of Samuel Tremblett, a 20-year-old college student, has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla. Tremblett tragically died in October in Easton, Massachusetts, when his 2021 Model Y crashed and subsequently erupted into flames, trapping him inside. His mother, Jacquelyn Tremblett, filed the suit in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleging that Tesla's electronic door handles are defective and unreasonably dangerous.

According to the complaint, Tremblett called 911 immediately after the crash, expressing his panic and inability to escape the burning vehicle. He reportedly told the dispatcher, "I can't get out, please help me," and "I can't breathe," acknowledging he was "dying." Firefighters struggled for four hours to extinguish the blaze, reporting at least four explosions.

The lawsuit asserts that Tesla's electric door handles fail to operate during electrical system failures, a critical safety hazard. The complaint also points to seventeen other reports between 2016 and 2025 where Tesla vehicle occupants were allegedly trapped after crashes. The family accuses Tesla of misrepresenting its emphasis on safety to consumers.