Tragic Cybertruck Accident in SF Bay Area Kills 3, Injures 1

[Sandman1962]

Very sad. The CT must have really been speeding along to sustain such damage. I say this because I really am shocked to see the tree trunk through the wheel well. But perhaps this is because of the designed crumple zone. No judgement meant at all, though it may sound like it, that kind of speed and that residential neighborhood just don’t mix - at any time. A lesson for us all.

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[Jack27]

Any glass puncture tools to purchase in case something happens to window or door mechanism preventing opening?

Yes, many on amazing. Some
Even have a seatbelt cutter in them as well

 

[Balthezor]

I have window breaking tools in all of my vehicles. Do they work, I don't know, but I'll have them just in case. And I'm sure it's better than my fists.

 

[mark555055c]

Wreckless driving it appears. Not much can be done in this case.

Likely these folks would have perished in any vehicle involved in this accident, regardless of laminated windows, paper windows, windows down, etc.

 

[Deleted member 17810]

Very sad. The CT must have really been speeding along to sustain such damage. I say this because I really am shocked to see the tree trunk through the wheel well. But perhaps this is because of the designed crumple zone. No judgement meant at all, though it may sound like it, that kind of speed and that residential neighborhood just don’t mix - at any time. A lesson for us all.

Nowadays wheels are designed to break away.

 

[SentinelOne]

I have a mini breaker bar, a 2" diameter Steel Ball, auto glass breaker tool / seatbelt cutter and a 9mm......if I can move I'm getting out through the window! Helps that I'm claustrophobic .

 

[Stuck4ger]

They were burned alive. I've said it before, all windows being laminated is a bad idea. Its not just a CT thing, other vehicles are starting to do it too.

Here you can see the CT is against a wall, and the passenger doors are heavily damaged, I assume they couldnt open. The windows offer no escape unless they were already opened.

Maybe people shouldn’t be so quick to assume? As an example, it isn’t normally considered a design flaw if unconscious or non-ambulatory people cannot get out of a vehicle.

 

[RayzorBEV]

My just turned 28 years old friend was burned alive last year in a 6 vehicle pile-up. And no, he wasn't in a car with fancy laminated glass. It was a 2022 Honda Accord that bursted into flames when it got rear ended. He had zero chance to get out... RIP my friend?

 

[YDR37]

I have window breaking tools in all of my vehicles. Do they work, I don't know, but I'll have them just in case. And I'm sure it's better than my fists.

Standard window-breaking tools (ResQme, LifeHammer, etc) will work on tempered glass, but not on laminated glass. The ResQme and LifeHammer websites explicitly acknowledge this limitation.

Laminated glass used to only be used on windshields, but it is now often found on side and rear windows, particularly on more expensive vehicles (including the Cybertruck). Laminated glass doesn't shatter, even if it is completely punctured. You need to puncture it, then insert a saw in the hole and cut out a large hole with the saw. There are manual saws that can cut laminated glass, but they take some time to use. I asked a firefighter about this, and the only tool that he could suggest for fast exit through laminated glass was a battery-powered Sawzall with a laminated glass blade.

 

[Pops]

Maybe people shouldn’t be so quick to assume? As an example, it isn’t normally considered a design flaw if unconscious or non-ambulatory people cannot get out of a vehicle.

That is a fair point, but it is logical that if you cannot break out of the windows with your bare hands, or with a simple tool (if you can find the tool after a crash) your chances of escape dramatically decrease.

This is an irrefutable statement: Its easier to escape a burning/flooding vehicle through tempered glass, than through laminated glass.

 

[h2038hs]

What truck is in the foreground?

I live in this town - It's a Ford F-150 Lightning that operates as the Fire Chief's vehicle.

 

[Startreknerd]

I live in this town - It's a Ford F-150 Lightning that operates as the Fire Chief's vehicle.

Hi neighbor.

So that reflector is added. I was wondering since there's no EV truck that matches it with that reflector in that position.

Thanks.

 

[sirozha]

Many of the articles that I read stated that laminated glass is so tough that hammers may not be enough to full break the window to be able to kick it out. That sucks to know knowing I bought two emergency hammers for my CT.

Here is just one article:
The Right Way to Break a Car Window in an Emergency | Lifehacker

That is pretty scary to know. So, what is the solution to get out of the Cybertruck if the doors are damaged beyond being able to open them with the emergency lever?

There’s only one way to know for sure. Bust a Cybertruck window with that hammer.

 

[Startreknerd]

There’s only one way to know for sure. Bust a Cybertruck window with that hammer.

Could use a steal ball. I heard that helps.

 

[Mal]

Not to redirect from the tragedy of three people dying in a wreck, but I'm curious about the fire. I was under the impression that, once on fire, EV batteries were nigh impossible to extinguish. If that's the case, I'd expect to see more damage to the tree and surrounding foliage, the tires, etc.

There's a few videos of the local news coverage on youtube. The positioning of the truck makes it look (to me) like they were going too fast and went wide around that curve. Glad the dude following them was able to pull someone out.

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