A devastating accident in Sehnde, northern Germany, on September 7, 2025, claimed the lives of a 43-year-old man and two nine-year-old children after their Tesla crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Emergency crews at the scene were unable to open the vehicle’s electronic doors to rescue the occupants in time, underscoring serious safety concerns about Tesla’s door design.
The Tesla reportedly veered off the road during an overtaking maneuver, impacting the tree and igniting a fire. A third nine-year-old child escaped through a broken window and was airlifted to nearby hospital with injuries, but the other three occupants tragically perished.
One eyewitness, Roman Jedrzejewski, working nearby, recounted the moments he heard the crash and rushed to aid. Armed only with a fire extinguisher, he found the fire too intense and the car doors impossible to open, despite parts of the vehicle appearing intact. “I wanted to save people. I tried the door, but it didn’t work,” he said tearfully.
Tesla’s signature flush electronic door handles, designed for aerodynamic efficiency, rely on power to operate. When power is cut after a crash, these doors can become inoperable from the outside. Though manual overrides exist inside the car, they are often difficult to locate or use, especially in high-stress emergencies or by children.
This heartbreaking incident adds to a growing list of safety concerns over Tesla’s door mechanisms. German regulators and U.S. safety authorities are actively investigating, while Tesla has indicated potential redesign plans to merge manual and electronic release systems to improve emergency access.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder that while innovation drives the electric car industry forward, safety measures must keep pace to prevent future loss of life.
