Tesla Sued Over Another Fatal Crash in Growing Scrutiny of Doors

Tesla Inc. was sued over a fiery crash in Washington state that left one person dead and another seriously injured after rescuers allegedly struggled to open the vehicle’s doors, the latest in a growing body of litigation scrutinizing the company’s electrically powered handles.

The claims stem from an accident in January 2023, when Jeffery Dennis and his wife, Wendy, were running errands on a Saturday afternoon in their Model 3 sedan. The electric vehicle “suddenly and rapidly accelerated out of control,” hitting a utility pole and bursting into flames, according to the suit, which was filed Friday in federal court in Washington state.