Early Wednesday morning, officials reported that three people inside a Tesla Cybertruck lost their lives after the vehicle crashed and caught fire in Piedmont.
Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers reported at a morning press conference that another person in the car was hospitalized with serious injuries. At 3:08 a.m., his department received an iPhone alert from inside the vehicle. Officers arrived on the scene just two minutes later to discover the Cybertruck engulfed in flames.
Firefighters reached the scene at 3:16 a.m., according to him. Authorities are currently investigating the reasons behind the single-car crash that resulted in three fatalities, with speed likely playing a role, according to Chief Bowers.
“Our women and men who responded to this call did everything they could,” the police chief said at the press conference. “It’s devastating. But again, the devastation pales in comparison to what these families are dealing with this morning, the day before Thanksgiving.”
A coroner arrived approximately two hours after police and fire units, according to the California Highway Patrol’s incident page.
The accident severely damaged the car. Images and footage reveal it crashed into a retaining wall and a tree along the roadside. The Cybertruck’s front was damaged, featuring a crumpled appearance and a panel on the front-right corner nearly detached.
A passerby exited his vehicle and rescued the remaining occupant from the wrecked car, Chief Bowers informed KTVU.
The police chief reportedly stated, “The solo vehicle involved in the crash was followed by another vehicle that arrived as the first was fully engulfed.” “The person got out of the vehicle and managed to rescue someone, but the vehicle was a Cybertruck, and the heat was overwhelming.”
Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan informed reporters during the press conference that the bystander “likely saved a life.” He mentioned that the rapid extinguishing of the fire suggests the vehicle’s electric battery likely did not ignite during the crash. Upon arrival, Brannigan noted that the flames reached twice the height of the vehicle.
