Tesla Model Y crash leaves four dead, electronic doors scrutinized

Four individuals died in a Toronto crash involving a Tesla Model Y on October 24, when the vehicle reportedly lost control, hit a guardrail, and collided with a pillar, subsequently igniting. One survivor, a woman in her twenties, escaped with assistance from a bystander who broke a window to help her exit. The bystander, Rick Harper, told the Toronto Star that he believed the electronic doors might have contributed to the other passengers’ inability to escape, as he assumed the survivor had attempted to open the door before he intervened. Harper noted that visibility was compromised due to smoke, preventing him from realizing there were additional passengers inside.

Toronto police are investigating the crash and the resulting fire. Initial information raises questions about the electronic door mechanisms in Tesla vehicles, which require power to open, potentially hindering occupants’ escape during emergencies. Although most Tesla models include manual release levers, these emergency releases have faced criticism for their design and location, which may be unfamiliar to passengers or difficult to access during emergencies. The Model Y, specifically, does not always come with manual releases for rear doors, though it remains unclear if the model in this accident had such features.

Tesla has faced past incidents involving occupants allegedly trapped in vehicles during emergencies. In 2019, the family of a deceased driver filed a lawsuit alleging that the auto-retracting door handles on his Model S prevented access by rescuers during a fire. In a similar event in 2021, another driver claimed he was temporarily trapped inside a burning Tesla Model S due to malfunctioning door handles but managed to escape. EV fires, particularly from battery sources, are recognized as challenging to extinguish, requiring extensive resources, which adds to the importance of reliable escape methods for EV occupants.