A Tesla Cybertruck crashed and caught fire in northern California early Wednesday, killing three people and seriously injuring one, local officials said. Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers said speed may have been a factor in the crash, but added that authorities would continue to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy. The city of Piedmont is located approximately 4 kilometers northeast of Oakland.
The fire department was able to put out the fire quickly, although police who responded to the scene were unable to put out the flames with fire extinguishers.
Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan said the speed with which the flames were extinguished meant the Cybertruck's large lithium-ion batteries were unlikely to catch fire. He called the incident "more like a typical car fire."
In response to a question about the Cybertruck's recent recall, Powers said, "There is no indication that mechanical impact was the primary cause of the crash."
Tesla's Cybertruck has been on sale for about a year and has been recalled six times for safety issues, most recently on November 5 because a faulty electric inverter caused a loss of power to the drive wheels.
Other recalls include the rearview camera image not activating immediately after reversing, trim parts that may come off, windshield wipers that may malfunction, and instrument panel warning lights with incorrect font sizes. In April, the futuristic truck was recalled to fix a gas pedal that could get stuck on the interior.