Three California teenagers killed in horrific Tesla Cybertruck crash were longtime friends visiting home for the holidays

The three California teenagers who were tragically killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash just before Thanksgiving have been identified as Bay Area college students and close friends, authorities said. The police are investigating whether speed was the cause of the accident.

Jack Nelson, Soren Dixon and Krista Tsukahara, all 19-year-old sophomores who had become friends in high school, were returning from an event in Piedmont around 3 a.m. Wednesday when their SUV veered off the road, hit a tree and exploded. into the fire, reports CBS San Francisco. A fourth passenger, Jordan Miller, a 20-year-old University of Wisconsin sophomore, survived but suffered serious burns, his mother, Samantha Miller, said.

The tragic death of three friends

He underwent surgery on Friday morning, Samantha told the station. “It’s a devastating situation. And you know, we’re all thinking about the children that were lost,” his mother said.

Nelson and Dixon were both members of the Piedmont High School lacrosse team, and Nelson also participated in junior high and varsity football.

Dixon continued his lacrosse career at the University of Southern California, while Nelson attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

It was not immediately clear which university Tsukahara attended.

Police were investigating Friday whether speeding may have contributed to the crash, which authorities said did not involve other vehicles.

The sleek, futuristic electric vehicle left the road, hit a cement wall and became wedged between the wall and a tree, Piedmont Police Capt. Chris Monahan told The Chronicle.

The investigation is still ongoing to find out what led to the accident

When the law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, the SUV was engulfed in flames, which exceeded twice the height. The California Highway Patrol has taken possession of the Cybertruck and plans to inspect it for possible mechanical problems.

Tesla has announced several recalls in 2024 Cyber ​​truck model earlier this year.

Last month Elon MuskThe automaker has announced a recall of more than 27,000 Cybertrucks due to a delayed display of the rearview camera, which can impair the driver’s visibility and increase the risk of crashes.

At the beginning of this year Tesla also issued a voluntary recall of thousands of Cybertrucks — one in April for faulty accelerator pedals that could have caused serious crashes, and another in June for issues with windshield wipers and exterior trim.