Family of Bristol County 20-year-old who died while trapped in fiery crash files lawsuit against Tesla

The family of a young man who died after a Bristol County crash has filed a lawsuit.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III, at just after 1:00 a.m. on October 29th, Easton Police and EMS received a 911 call of a single car crash in the area of Route 138 just past the Raynham Town line in Easton. 

Upon arrival, first responders located a blue Tesla, with significant damage, in the wooded area approximately twenty feet from the southbound lane.  The vehicle was actively burning, and human remains were located in the rear seat of the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by first responders, and the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of the victim’s remains. 

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, Sam Tremblett of Easton had a great sense of humor. He was smart and driven, and he loved his family and friends. Those same family and friends are now dealing with a tremendous loss.

A lawsuit, brought by Sam’s mother Jacquelyn, alleges that Tesla’s electronic door handles and overall design were “defective and unreasonably dangerous.” Specifically, it claims the vehicle’s electrical system failed upon impact, rendering the power-operated door handles inoperable and trapping him inside.

The suit accuses Tesla of negligence, breach of warranty, and causing conscious pain and suffering, seeking $25 million in compensatory damages.

The complaint alleges that Tesla has faced similar complaints and investigations over electronic door mechanisms that can fail post-crash, preventing escape.

A key element in the suit is a transcript of Samuel’s harrowing 911 call, where he pleaded desperately: “I’m stuck in a car crash … I can’t get out, please help me … I can’t breathe. It’s on fire. Help please … I am going to die … I’m dying … Help … Help.”

An obituary noted that Samuel was a talented and dedicated athlete who “attended Syracuse University for 3 years, where he majored in design studies and discovered a passion for fashion design. He was an entrepreneur who had a vision to design his own clothes and in 2024 launched his own clothing line, Forget Raven, which became an instant success, and he was preparing to take that dream to the next level. He also found joy and confidence in modeling, expressing his individuality through art and style. He was a model for Syracuse Magazine as well as several NYC modeling agencies. He was an inspiration to many young entrepreneurs as he took many under his wing and taught them the skills to follow their own dream.”

“Samuel cared deeply for his friends and was known for his kind heart, loyalty, and genuine nature. His love of animals shone through when he recently adopted two kittens, who quickly became part of his family. Samuel’s life, though far too short, was filled with creativity, love, and light. His family and friends will remember his bright smile, adventurous spirit, and the warmth he brought to every moment.”

According to People, Jacquelyn Tremblett issued a public statement through her legal team stating, “how could Tesla keep selling vehicles that they know trap people inside their cars after a crash?” Jacquelyn claimed. “They could have fixed it, but they refused. Now my son is dead after suffering unmercifully. The people who did this must face consequences and the public needs to know how dangerous Tesla vehicles are in a crash.”