A Tesla Cybertruck crash in Piedmont, California resulted in three fatalities and left one person with severe injuries early Wednesday morning, November 27, when the vehicle struck a tree and cement wall.
The incident occurred around 3:08 a.m. at the intersection of Hampton Road and King Avenue when the electric vehicle mounted a curb before colliding with a tree and becoming wedged between a retaining wall and sidewalk.
Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers said the occupants were returning from a function when the crash occurred. “The solo vehicle that was involved in the crash, there was another vehicle that came after it, that was following behind and came upon the vehicle as it was fully engulfed.”
The vehicle’s automatic alert system notified emergency services, while neighbors also called for assistance. A young man who had attended the same function managed to rescue one passenger from the front seat. The survivor was transported to a hospital with critical injuries, while the other three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan reported that firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. He noted that the Cybertruck’s lithium-ion battery did not appear to have caught fire, describing it as “more along the lines of a typical car fire,”
Police Chief Bowers indicated that speed was likely a contributing factor in the collision, though investigators have not ruled out the possibility of drug or alcohol involvement. He added that there was no immediate indication of mechanical issues being the primary cause.
The California Highway Patrol and Piedmont Police Department are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Cybertruck has been subject to six recalls for various safety issues, including problems with the electric inverter, rearview camera, trim pieces, windshield wipers, and gas pedals, though officials stated these issues were not believed to be factors in this incident.
