Fatal Accident in Villigst
A 43-year-old man and two nine-year-old children died on 7 September in Villigst, western Germany, after their Tesla veered off the road while overtaking, struck a tree, and burst into flames. Police said the three victims were trapped inside and unable to escape the fire.
Two other passengers survived. One child managed to escape and was airlifted to hospital, while another occupant received treatment on-site. Emergency responders were dispatched at 2:07 p.m., but the vehicle continued to reignite as firefighters tried to contain the blaze.
Desperate Rescue Attempt
Local shop owner Roman Jedrzejewski, who witnessed the crash, rushed to the car with a fire extinguisher. He said he tried to open the doors but failed.
“I wanted to rescue some people. I tried to open the car, but that didn’t work either. It was already so hot from the fire,” he said. The unsuccessful attempt has left him traumatised.
Police spokesman Bernd Pentrop confirmed that the victims were burned to death before rescuers could reach them. Emergency crews involved in the operation have since received psychological support.
Tesla Door Handles Under Scrutiny
Investigators believe Tesla’s retractable electronic door handles may have made the rescue impossible. According to the German Automobile Association (ADAC), once power is cut, the handles remain retracted, preventing opening from the outside. Manual release is only possible from inside the vehicle—a challenge in emergencies, particularly for children.
The North Rhine-Westphalia Police Department said its specialist team will reconstruct the events leading to the crash to “clearly determine the cause.”
Broader Safety Concerns
The tragedy adds to growing concerns about Tesla’s door handle design. In recent days, a report highlighted several accidents in which passengers were trapped inside burning vehicles because rescuers could not access the doors.
In the U.S., firefighter Max Walsh recalled smashing a window to pull a driver from a Tesla Model Y. By the time he reached the passenger, she had suffered lasting lung damage and severe burns. “If I could have opened the door, I would have gotten them both out before the fire department even got there,” he said.
Official Investigations and Response
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into more than 170,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles over reports of electronic door handles failing in emergencies. The agency noted that Tesla manuals include instructions for manual release, but the process is complex and “may not be well known to owners.”
Tesla’s design chief Franz von Holzhausen has since confirmed that the company is working on a redesign of its door handles.
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