Friends trapped in Tesla burned to death when electronic doors failed to open after crash

Four friends tragically lost their lives in a horrifying incident involving a Tesla car after a crash disabled its electronic doors. The devastating event occurred on October 24, claiming the lives of Neelraj Gohil, 25, his sister Ketaba Gohil, 29, Jay Sisodiya, and Digvijay Patel. The only survivor, a woman in her 20s, managed to escape the burning Model Y car when a passer-by, Rick Harper, bravely broke a window to free her from the engulfing flames.

Harper recounted that the woman was unable to open the doors from inside the crashed Tesla, indicating a possible malfunction of the electronic system post-crash. Despite his efforts to rescue the occupants, thick smoke obscured his view, preventing him from knowing if the others were also trying to escape through the unresponsive doors. The incident transpired after the car collided with a guardrail at high speed on Toronto’s Lakeshore Boulevard East, with investigations ongoing to determine the crash’s cause.

In the United States, the Tesla Model Y is under scrutiny in nine investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for issues such as unexpected brake activation and sudden unintended acceleration. While Tesla asserts its vehicles are designed with safety as a priority and are among the safest in the world, experts highlight the presence of a manual override system in Tesla cars. Nonetheless, this feature is not widely publicised, and in moments of distress following a crash, passengers may struggle to locate and utilise it effectively.

The tragedy underscores the importance of vehicle safety features, emergency response protocols, and heightened awareness surrounding post-crash procedures. The harrowing incident serves as a poignant reminder of the critical role of swift and effective action in emergency situations to prevent such devastating outcomes.

**Summary:**
The article discusses a tragic incident where four friends lost their lives in a Tesla car due to a malfunction in the electronic doors after a crash. The sole survivor, a young woman, was rescued by a passer-by who broke a window to free her from the engulfing flames. The incident highlights the importance of vehicle safety features and emergency response protocols to prevent such devastating outcomes.