Tesla Model S doors wouldn't unlock as driver burned to death inside...

Sky News ^ | 24 October 2019 | unknown

[fruser1]

A doctor in Florida burned to death because the battery in his Tesla burst into flames and the car's futuristic door handles wouldn't allow a police officer to rescue him, according to a legal complaint.

Dr Omar Awan died in February after his Tesla hit a palm tree.

...part of the design of the Tesla Model S is to retract the door handles into the car and they then "auto-present" and pop out when the car's key fob is detected nearby.

However, the handles malfunctioned and people were not able to open the doors

Dr Awan had no broken bones or other injuries resulting from the crash.

[fruser1]

Another great design decision. Make doors that can't unlock manually. Granted, any device, mechanical or electric, can fail, but this bit here is the type of "feature" I detest.

[clamper1797]

Lawsuit city

[crosdaddy]

Maybe break the window with your baton and pull the driver out?

[Bonemaker]

I’d make a new door if I was trapped.

[jonrick46]

If Tesla was smart, they would recall all the cars and change out the doors. Otherwise, fears about the vehicle becoming a death trap would tank their sales. If I owned one, I would demand a refund for the price I paid for the car.

[ocrp1982]

Indeed, as I was reading this the first thought was “in case of emergency break glass!!!”

[Bullish]

Elon Musk is mega-rich fool. He’s going to lose all his investors money soon enough.

[Cobra64]

Doesn’t the Tesla have a manual door latch inside like the C7 Corvette?

[SauronOfMordor]

Cops mostly don’t carry batons any more, after Rodney King.

[Bonemaker]

There are devices to break in or out of car windows. Have them.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

So much for that record ‘profit’ that Tesla just reported.

[Alberta's Child]

One of the biggest threats to human existence is the infantile, pathological faith that so many people have in the reliability of technology they don’t understand.

[dinodino]

Yes, the Model S has a normal door handle on the inside. The Dr. should have been able to escape.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Makes me glad I will never own a Tesla.

[al baby]

Now nicknamed apollo 1

[DannyTN]

What’s to burn? Is it a hybrid or full electric?

Interior materials should be fire proof.

[deport]

I’d make a new door if I was trapped.

*************

I don’t understand why they didn’t break out
the windows, windshield, etc..

[crosdaddy]

Those batteries are gone to burn like a mother,if/when they catch on fire. Very hot, very hard to extinguish.

[I_BE_THE_ONE]

Yes you pull a handle to open the door. Obviously a bad wreck as man was not able to get himself out. Since there is no engine they have been able to disperse a crash with great crumple zones.

The safest car I have ever seen.

[dinodino]

The Model S is an amazing car.