Family of man, 20, who allegedly died after being trapped when Tesla crashed reveal plan to sue

The family of a 20-year-old student who allegedly died after becoming 'trapped' in a burning Tesla vehicle has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's car company.

Samuel Tremblett passed away on October 29, 2025, after being involved in the tragic accident on the northbound lane of Turnpike Street in the Massachusetts town of Easton.

Now, over three months on from Samuel's death, his family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, claiming that the car manufacturer had produced a 'defective' 2021 Model Y.

The complaint, which was filed in the US District Court in Massachusetts on Wednesday (February 4), claims Samuel died after a collision led to the car bursting into flames and the student allegedly being left stuck inside.

"He sustained catastrophic thermal injuries, smoke inhalation, causing his death," as per the complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

The family's lawsuit claims the Model Y car was 'defective' (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Jacquelyn Tremblett, Samuel's mother, claims he'd survived the initial collision after crashing the Model Y, which he was driving, into a tree, with the complaint further claiming that the vehicle erupted into flames moments after, and Samuel was unable to exit the car due to what they described as a 'defective and unreasonably dangerous electronic system for operating the door handles'.

The suit also detailed an alleged 911 call Samuel made after the crash, where he said: "I can’t breathe .. it’s on fire. Help please ... I am going to die," the student allegedly said. "I’m dying ... Help ... Help."

It goes on to further allege that police arrived on the scene and were unable to extinguish the flames, which eventually took four hours to put out.

"Unable to open the doors, Mr. Tremblett was trapped in the Tesla vehicle and died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation before he was rescued," it said.

Mentioning 15 alleged incidents of people supposedly dying after being unable to open the vehicle's doors, the suit goes on to claim: "Notwithstanding the advice of Tesla’s engineers that this design was a serious safety hazard. Mr. [Elon] Musk [Tesla founder] refused to approve a safe, alternative design.

Samuel died last October (Family Handout)

"Tesla continues to manufacture and sell its vehicles with the defective and unreasonably dangerous automated door handles."

Alongside the wrongful death claim, the family are also alleging negligence, conscious pain, and suffering.

Forbes reported that a top Tesla executive said in September that the company was working to redesign its door handles, adding that Tesla updated its website in December to say that, when a serious collision is detected, hazard lights will show to increase visibility and 'doors will automatically unlock for emergency access'.

An obituary for Samuel from Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home described him as being 'full of life and energy' as well as being someone who 'cared deeply for his friends and was known for his kind heart, loyalty, and genuine nature'.

UNILAD has reached out to Tesla for comment.

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