The family of a 20-year-old man who was fatally burned in October while trapped inside a Tesla after crashing into a tree in Easton has sued the company, alleging the car’s “unreasonably dangerous design” caused his death, records show.
Jacquelyn Tremblett, of Easton, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in US District Court in Boston on behalf of her late son, Samuel David Tremblett, according to legal filings.
Her lawyers said the civil complaint documents at least 15 people who have died in the past decade after becoming trapped in Teslas when the electric doors wouldn’t open during emergencies.
“How could Tesla keep selling vehicles that they know trap people inside their cars after a crash?” Tremblett said in a statement. “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,” she added.
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Oct. 29, authorities received a 911 call reporting a crash on Route 138 in Easton and arrived to find a blue Tesla “actively burning,” Bristol District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s office said at the time.
Emergency responders found human remains in the back seat, prosecutors said.
The car was found with heavy damage in a wooded area approximately 20 feet “from the southbound lane,” officials said at the time.
In the Thursday statement, Tremblett’s legal team said the Tesla her son was driving crashed into a tree and burst into flames.
“Tremblett told 911 dispatchers that he was stuck in his car that was on fire,” the statement said. According to the 911 tape, the release said, he pleaded for help, telling dispatchers, “I can’t breathe. It’s on fire. Help. Please. I’m going to die. I’m dying. Help. Help.”
Body camera footage previously released to the Globe shows an emergency responder approaching the fully engulfed vehicle on the side of the road.
“I can’t even hit it with the fire extinguisher,” an officer tells dispatch. “There was just one explosion. ... As of now I don’t see anyone.”
Fire officials said in an incident report that Samuel Tremblett’s body was found “heavily burned” in the back seat after the blaze was mostly extinguished.
According to his obituary, the Middleborough native was a design studies major at Syracuse University with “a passion for fashion design,” having launched his own clothing line, Forget Raven, in 2024.
He also had a burgeoning modeling career, the obituary said.
“Samuel was full of life and energy. He loved spending time with his younger brother, Tristan, whether shooting hoops, hanging out with friends, or just enjoying each other’s company,” the obituary said. “A talented and dedicated athlete, Samuel played basketball, spent his summers on the baseball field playing little league, and competed in track and field and basketball during high school.”
His family said he lived his life to the fullest, guided by generosity and loyalty.
“Samuel’s life, though far too short, was filled with creativity, love, and light,” the obituary said. “His family and friends will remember his bright smile, adventurous spirit, and the warmth he brought to every moment.”
Andrew B. Nebenzahl, a lawyer for Jacquelyn Tremblett, said in a statement that the tragedy should serve as a “wake up call” for Tesla owners.
That’s particularly true, he said, for " those who drive with children in their back seats. ... The question is, how many people have to die before Tesla puts its brilliant engineers on solving this problem immediately? It’s happening again and again today.”
Material from prior Globe stories was used. This story will be updated when more information is released.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. John R. Ellement can be reached at john.ellement@globe.com. Follow him @JREbosglobe.