Elon Musk’s Tesla sued after Model 3 exploded ‘on impact’ after crashing into a tree in New York, killing the driver who couldn’t escape in time – while his grieving wife denounces the cars as ‘not crash-proof’
- A woman is suing Tesla over a car accident that killed her husband
- Jyung Woo Hahn died after his Model 3 went off the road on March 12 last year
- His wife is now suing Tesla, saying the car is “not crash-proof” and “dangerous.”
A grieving wife is suing Tesla over a car accident that killed her husband in a fiery explosion after his car crashed into a tree.
Jyung Woo Hahn, 46, was behind the wheel of a white 2020 Model 3 during a snow storm in Rockland County, New York, when it exited the Palisades Interstate Parkway around 11 a.m. on March 12 last year.
His wife, Jiyoung Yoon, says her husband survived the accident but was trapped in the car when it burst into flames. Images of the burnt-out wreck show a charred shell, with much of the interior reduced to ash.
Nanuet firefighters responding to the crash said the fire was “extremely difficult” to put out after the car’s lithium-ion battery caught fire.
Jyung Woo Hahn died after his Model 3 went off the road on March 12 last year
The vehicle left the Palisades Interstate Parkway on March 12 last year around 11 a.m
“The Tesla’s only power source is the 375-volt lithium-ion battery, which spans the entire length and width of the car’s floor,” the Nanuet Fire Department said.
“This battery had ruptured and was in a ‘thermal runaway’ making (the fire) extremely difficult to extinguish.”
Thermal runaway is the chain reaction that takes place when a lithium-ion cell enters the self-heating phase. The process is accelerated by rising temperatures, releasing more energy and generating more heat.
The fire brigade used more than 1,000 liters of water to distinguish the fire. Teams from New City and Spring Valley were brought in to put out the blaze Daily voice reported.
Finally it was turned off around 1pm. Jyung Woo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jiyoung says the car is not crash-resistant, making it “unreasonably dangerous for its intended purpose.” TMZ reports.
The all-electric Tesla Model 3 features a “rigid structure,” “impact protection,” and “very low rollover risk.”
It is also equipped with autopilot technology, helping owners with “the most stressful parts of driving,” including steering, acceleration and braking, according to Tesla’s website.
It is not clear whether the autopilot was activated at the time of the accident.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Tesla for comment.
Jyung Woo’s wife is now suing Tesla, saying the cars are ‘not crash-proof’ and ‘unreasonably dangerous’
Earlier this year, Tesla recalled more than 362,000 vehicles in the US over fears its self-driving software could cause a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that the Full Self-Driving Beta software enables the vehicle to “exceed speed limits.”
It is also claimed that the cars ‘driving unlawfully or unpredictably through intersections increase the risk of an accident.’
CEO Elon Musk responded to the claims, responding to a post on Twitter saying, “The word ‘recall’ for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and flat out wrong.”
The company was forced to recall a version of Full Self-Driving in October 2021 after owners reported their car suddenly slamming on the brakes at highway speeds after an overnight update.
In 2022, they recalled more than 50,000 vehicles because vehicles in Full Self-Driving were equipped with a ‘rolling stop’ feature that allowed them to drive through intersections without stopping at stop signs.