A speeding Tesla Cybertruck crashed and erupted into flames in California, killing three recent Piedmont High School graduates and leaving another seriously injured. The crash occurred just after 3 a.m. Wednesday when the truck jumped a curb, struck a cement wall, and became wedged between the wall and a tree, Piedmont police said.
A driver from the same event managed to rescue one passenger before the Cybertruck became engulfed in flames. First responders, alerted by an iPhone’s crash detection, arrived to find the vehicle consumed by fire, unable to save the others trapped inside.
“Speed was a contributing factor,” Police Chief Jeremy Bowers said, adding that investigators are looking into whether drugs or alcohol played a role. Mechanical issues were ruled out.
The victims, three men and one woman, were popular Piedmont High graduates and soccer players, leaving their community in shock. “They are smart kids, good kids,” said former teacher Sandy Martin.
The lone survivor underwent surgery for severe burns, with family friends hoping for his recovery.
The crash casts new scrutiny on Tesla’s Cybertruck, which has faced multiple recalls this year over safety concerns, including faulty rear-view cameras, accelerator pedals, and windshield wipers. Designed as a futuristic refresh to Tesla’s lineup, the truck has become controversial amid slowing demand and growing safety questions.
