Three young lives were tragically lost in a Tesla Cybertruck crash in Piedmont, California.
The victims, identified as Krysta Tsukahara, Soren Dixon, and Jack Nelson, were all 2023 graduates of Piedmont High School.
A fourth person, currently hospitalized with severe burn injuries, survived the fiery incident.
The crash occurred around 3 a.m. near Hampton Road and King Avenue, a residential neighborhood about 12 miles outside of San Francisco. According to authorities, the vehicle caught fire immediately after the crash.
A driver from a second car arrived moments later and managed to pull one person from the burning Cybertruck.
Despite firefighters’ efforts to control the blaze, three of the occupants could not be saved.
The injured individual, who remains unnamed, was transported to a nearby hospital and is recovering after surgery.
Who are the victims
- Soren Dixon was a freshman at the University of Southern California and a standout athlete at Piedmont High School.
- Krysta Tsukahara was attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, according to her LinkedIn profile.
- Jack Nelson was also a well-known figure within the local soccer community.
A close family friend told ABC 7 that the victims were popular soccer players during their high school years.
Piedmont resident Aileen Desoto, who has lived in the area for 12 years, visited the crash site to lay flowers and pay her respects.
The victims’ middle school teacher, Sandy Martin, described the victims as “smart” and “good kids” who were supportive of their friends.
It’s not clear what caused the crash but police say a truck “jumped the curb, struck a cement wall and then wedged in between the wall and a tree.” Speed was likely a factor in the incident, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers told reporters. Officials will work to determine if drugs and alcohol could’ve been involved in the crash.
Investigation Underway
Officials are investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Police Chief Jeremy Bowers confirmed the victims had been at a social gathering earlier that evening but did not provide additional details.
An iPhone inside the vehicle alerted authorities to the accident, a feature designed to detect crashes and send emergency notifications.
There are no signs that the car had mechanical problems.
“Due to the quick nature of being able to suppress the fire, we don’t think the main lithium battery of the car were on fire. But that’s going to be determined as part of the investigation,” the city’s Fire Chief, David Brannigan, said.
