The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed it is opening an inquiry into a Piedmont, California, crash earlier this week that involved a Tesla Cybertruck.
The accident happened around 3 am on November 27. Officers responded to the call and found the Cybertruck fully engulfed in flames and a single passenger being pulled out of the vehicle by a passersby. The crash left three college sophomores dead and a fourth sophomore with significant injuries.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, authorities believe the Cybertruck was likely speeding and jumped the curb before striking a cement wall and finally wedging itself between the wall and a tree.
The Piedmont Police Department and California Highway Patrol are investigating the crash. California Highway Patrol seized the Cybertruck to investigate a possible mechanical failure.
The probe is not a surprise, as the NHTSA investigates crashes involving EVs with self-driving capabilities. However, the agency did not confirm if the feature was engaged at the time of the crash and is gathering information from Tesla and law enforcement at this stage.
This is the second crash in 2024 in which a Cybertruck burst into flames for unknown reasons. Back in August, a Cybertruck in Baytown, Texas, burst into flames after the vehicle veered off the road and hit a concrete barrier. The NHTSA is also investigating that incident.
