A doctor burned to death in his crashed Tesla because the vehicle's electronic door handles didn't pop out, meaning rescuers couldn't save him from the flames, a lawsuit claims.
Dr. Omar Awan, 48, died in February 2019 after crashing his Model S on South Flamingo Road in Broward County, Florida.
My car doors lock as soon as I start moving more than a couple of miles an hour. The doors don't unlock when I stop either. They unlock when I pull the handle from within.
This is no different. No freaking way do I want my doors to unlock whenever I stop.
Of course, the root cause here is the crash. It appears Mr. Awan managed to crash the vehicle since he was drunk as a skunk and speeding. Perhaps if he had the sense to remain sober behind the wheel and to not speed the outcome may have perhaps been different.
An early tear-down showed that Telsa's doors are mostly electric with no mechanical backups. The rear doors on a 4-door have no mechanical connection between the inside handle and the latch at all. Yet another reason I will never ride in a Tesla.
There was someone up this way who drowned in his new Jeep at the boat ramp(according to the news story). They were backing down the ramp to get the boat, and the weight of the trailer overwhelmed traction, and the vehicle and trailer slid into deeper water. Supposedly, they couldn't get the doors open, cuz water in the electrics...
"A medical examiner's report claimed he died from inhaling toxic fumes and from burns, but Tesla alleged he was drunk as his BAC was above legal limits" -
Is it just me, or does Tesla's argument sound like a pathetic excuse to shift blame to a man that died a horrible death and is unable to defend himself?
If his BAC was high -- then it is very relevant. Additionally, the man's corpse can speak from the grave as it were by testing his BAC level. Frankly, if you're drunk off your ass and get in a wreck, turning around and blaming the car is just looking for someone with deep pockets. Let's get the complete truth out before jumping to conclusions.
Glad to know y'all think drunk driving is a capital offense. And I don't know where you get off saying he was drunk as a skunk. .08 BAC isn't exactly falling down drunk.
Full disclosure: I hold no truck with those that drive drunk. I've never gotten cited for DUI, never gotten a moving violation of any kind in over 50 years of driving. It just seems this is more a case of lousy engineering and an attempt to lay blame elsewhere. In other words, typical corporate lawyer bullshit.
As many people as drunk drivers kill each year in the US, I'm very content hearing that one of them burned to death. If his face was sufficiently twisted in agony in the final moments, maybe we can have a video of it play on a repeating loop in whatever bar he just left.
Oh, he was a doctor you say? So he was probably also an arrogant ass with a god complex who got himself killed and was a menace to other people on the road. Now his family is looking to sue?
Check the windows on some ( but not all?) newet cars. Some of the side windows are now laminated with plastic, so that they will no longer shatter, even if hit with a window breaker. John in Indy
It used to be, back in the 90's, IIRC, that car were setup to unlock the doors in event of a serious crash. Some had impact sensors in the bumper, etc. I would be guessing, but I'd think it would be like the airbags going off.
Who would want to Benin a car you can't exit, if there's an electrical failure?
Yeah, the talons are out for Musk these days since his recent activities will tend to put a crimp in the lefts rush to control all that is public consumption Plan on seeing more and more of these overhyped stories regarding him or one of his companies.
"February 2019" Right. Curious timing (not really) on this.
It's "ELON BAD" season so let's dig up a story on drunken entitled prick from 3.5 years ago who lost control of his Tesla and died, and try to spin it so he's a victim. It's a family tragedy and thankfully (I mean really, he could have crashed into a bus full of orphans and started a much bigger fire) nothing more.
It'll be interesting to see how the MADD people react to this. They tend to go nuclear whenever anyone tries to portray a drunk driver as a victim.
Reading through this post it sounds like I'm defending Elon. I'm really not. Teslas are overrated and overpriced, just like all EVs. And Elon Musk is running a scam on everyone with the Twitter nonsense. "Elon will fix it" is the new "Trump will fix it." No, he won't.
reason enough for belt smasher / grass breaker tools
ReplyDeleteGot one zip-tied to the seatbelt guide on all my vee-hickles.
DeleteI hope the family finds comfort in the fact that the airbags worked, and he was conscious after the initial impact.
ReplyDeleteAh, the wonders of technology . . .
ReplyDeleteRescuers couldn't break a window?
ReplyDeleteMy car doors lock as soon as I start moving more than a couple of miles an hour. The doors don't unlock when I stop either. They unlock when I pull the handle from within.
ReplyDeleteThis is no different. No freaking way do I want my doors to unlock whenever I stop.
Of course, the root cause here is the crash. It appears Mr. Awan managed to crash the vehicle since he was drunk as a skunk and speeding. Perhaps if he had the sense to remain sober behind the wheel and to not speed the outcome may have perhaps been different.
An early tear-down showed that Telsa's doors are mostly electric with no mechanical backups. The rear doors on a 4-door have no mechanical connection between the inside handle and the latch at all. Yet another reason I will never ride in a Tesla.
ReplyDeleteThere was someone up this way who drowned in his new Jeep at the boat ramp(according to the news story). They were backing down the ramp to get the boat, and the weight of the trailer overwhelmed traction, and the vehicle and trailer slid into deeper water. Supposedly, they couldn't get the doors open, cuz water in the electrics...
DeleteI suppose Elon was just setting at the console watching it all unfold while laughing.
ReplyDeleteDaryl
"A medical examiner's report claimed he died from inhaling toxic fumes and from burns, but Tesla alleged he was drunk as his BAC was above legal limits" -
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or does Tesla's argument sound like a pathetic excuse to shift blame to a man that died a horrible death and is unable to defend himself?
Pathetic.
Did the crash happen because the car had electric doors or because Omar Awan was drunk as a skunk?
DeleteIf his BAC was high -- then it is very relevant. Additionally, the man's corpse can speak from the grave as it were by testing his BAC level. Frankly, if you're drunk off your ass and get in a wreck, turning around and blaming the car is just looking for someone with deep pockets. Let's get the complete truth out before jumping to conclusions.
DeleteSOB will never drive drunk again.
DeleteGlad to know y'all think drunk driving is a capital offense.
DeleteAnd I don't know where you get off saying he was drunk as a skunk. .08 BAC isn't exactly falling down drunk.
Full disclosure: I hold no truck with those that drive drunk. I've never gotten cited for DUI, never gotten a moving violation of any kind in over 50 years of driving. It just seems this is more a case of lousy engineering and an attempt to lay blame elsewhere. In other words, typical corporate lawyer bullshit.
As many people as drunk drivers kill each year in the US, I'm very content hearing that one of them burned to death. If his face was sufficiently twisted in agony in the final moments, maybe we can have a video of it play on a repeating loop in whatever bar he just left.
DeleteOh, he was a doctor you say? So he was probably also an arrogant ass with a god complex who got himself killed and was a menace to other people on the road. Now his family is looking to sue?
Pathetic.
while I am kind of rooting for Elon as far as his dealings with Twitter, I do not want one of his cars
ReplyDeleteCheck the windows on some ( but not all?) newet cars. Some of the side windows are now laminated with plastic, so that they will no longer shatter, even if hit with a window breaker.
ReplyDeleteJohn in Indy
This guy was drunk. But the Tesla windows can also be responsible for the death of a sober person. One that was perhaps hit by a drunk driver.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why but I can't wait for tomorrows "Roast Me" post.
ReplyDeleteBad design having door handles that don't pop out when power is removed. [rocketride]
ReplyDeleteSupposedly, the headrest can come out of the seat and you can use the metal rod to break the glass. Dunno if anyone has tried it to see how it works.
ReplyDeleteIt used to be, back in the 90's, IIRC, that car were setup to unlock the doors in event of a serious crash. Some had impact sensors in the bumper, etc. I would be guessing, but I'd think it would be like the airbags going off.
ReplyDeleteWho would want to Benin a car you can't exit, if there's an electrical failure?
Yeah, the talons are out for Musk these days since his recent activities will tend to put a crimp in the lefts rush to control all that is public consumption Plan on seeing more and more of these overhyped stories regarding him or one of his companies.
ReplyDelete"February 2019" Right. Curious timing (not really) on this.
ReplyDeleteIt's "ELON BAD" season so let's dig up a story on drunken entitled prick from 3.5 years ago who lost control of his Tesla and died, and try to spin it so he's a victim. It's a family tragedy and thankfully (I mean really, he could have crashed into a bus full of orphans and started a much bigger fire) nothing more.
It'll be interesting to see how the MADD people react to this. They tend to go nuclear whenever anyone tries to portray a drunk driver as a victim.
Reading through this post it sounds like I'm defending Elon. I'm really not. Teslas are overrated and overpriced, just like all EVs. And Elon Musk is running a scam on everyone with the Twitter nonsense. "Elon will fix it" is the new "Trump will fix it." No, he won't.
OK, who missed that in the FMEA?
ReplyDelete