A fatal accident involving a Tesla Cybertruck occurred in Baytown, Texas. The vehicle veered off the road, hit a culvert, and caught fire, resulting in the driver's death.
The intense heat melted the Cybertruck's VIN number, making it challenging to identify both the vehicle and the driver.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is gathering information from Tesla regarding the incident but has not sent crash investigators or opened a formal investigation yet.
It is unclear if the NHTSA is investigating the cause of the fire or whether the driver was using automated driving features, as Cybertrucks do not have clearance for Tesla's self-driving suite.
This fatality is apparently the first reported involving the recently launched Tesla Cybertruck, a vehicle yet to be crash-tested by the NHTSA.
The Cybertruck has faced criticism for beta-like malfunctions, build quality issues, and had multiple recalls since its launch.
Past concerns related to the Cybertruck included detached trim pieces, malfunctioning windshield wipers, accelerator pedal problems, and underperforming off-road.
The vehicle has been criticized for prioritizing design aesthetics over safety.
Lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles like the Cybertruck can reach extremely high temperatures, spread rapidly due to thermal runaway, and require significantly more water to extinguish than a standard automotive fire, potentially leaving drivers with little time to exit or escape.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Engadget, Yahoo, Breitbart, Hoodline, SFGate, HotHardware, US News, WinFuture.