Three teenagers who were tragically killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash on Thanksgiving Eve have been identified.
The victims, Jack Nelson, Soren Dixon, and Krysta Tsukahara, were all 19-year-old college sophomores who had met in high school.
The group was returning from an event in Piedmont around 3:00AM Wednesday when their vehicle veered off the road, struck a tree, and erupted into flames, according to CBS San Francisco.
Jack Nelson and Soren Dixon were well-known athletes at Piedmont High School. Both played lacrosse, and Nelson also participated in junior varsity football and varsity soccer.
Dixon continued playing lacrosse at the University of Southern California, while Nelson joined the Sigma Nu fraternity at the University of Colorado Boulder, per the New York Post.
Krysta Tsukuhara:
A fourth passenger, Jordan Miller, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, survived but sustained severe burns. Miller’s mother, Samantha Miller, spoke to reporters about her son’s condition.
“It’s a devastating situation. And you know, we’re all thinking about the kids that were lost,” she said. Miller was undergoing surgery on Friday morning.
Piedmont Police are examining whether excessive speed contributed to the crash, which did not involve any other vehicles.
The Cybertruck reportedly jumped a curb, collided with a cement wall, and became wedged between the wall and a tree before catching fire.
When officers arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in a blaze twice as high as the car itself, Piedmont Police Capt. Chris Monahan reported.
The California Highway Patrol has seized the Cybertruck for further inspection, including checks for possible mechanical failures.
Tesla, the maker of the futuristic-looking Cybertruck, has issued several recalls for its 2024 models.
In November, the company recalled more than 27,000 vehicles due to delays in rear-view camera images that could impair driver visibility.
Earlier recalls addressed issues with accelerator pedals, windshield wipers, and exterior trim that could pose safety risks.
Authorities have not determined whether any mechanical faults contributed to Wednesday’s crash.
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those involved in this tragedy.
