Tesla faces lawsuit over deadly Tacoma crash that killed driver’s wife
Dec 1, 2025, 6:43 AM
A sign marks the location of a Tesla dealership. (Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)
(Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)
A Tacoma man is suing Tesla after his Tesla Model 3 malfunctioned and caused a crash that killed his wife nearly three years ago.
On January 7, 2023, Jeffery Dennis and his wife Wendy were driving on S. 56th Street in Tacoma when the Tesla “suddenly and rapidly accelerated out of control,” according to The News Tribune.
The vehicle sped up for at least five seconds, and the Tesla’s automatic emergency braking system did not activate. Jeffery attempted to avoid hitting other vehicles by swerving through traffic, but ultimately crashed into a utility pole, and the Tesla caught on fire.
Wendy died from several blunt-force injuries, and Jeffery was seriously injured in the crash. Witnesses estimated that the Tesla reached speeds of up to 60 mph before striking the utility pole.
“Not only did defects in the Tesla vehicle cause the tragic crash, but other defects in the Tesla caused an explosive fire and prevented rescuers from removing Jeff and Wendy in time to prevent some of their horrendous harm,” the lawsuit said, according to The News Tribune.
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The lawsuit alleged that Tesla was aware of the car model’s problems, and the company designed the automatic emergency braking system not to activate when a driver is attempting to avoid a collision.
Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that the Tesla Model 3’s battery was highly explosive and unprotected, increasing fire risk, and that its battery-powered door handles hinder rescue efforts when power is lost after a crash.
“Potential rescuers expect to be able to open the car’s doors with the handles,” the lawsuit said, according to The News Tribune. “Unless they have been specifically trained about Tesla’s electric door latch design, they wouldn’t know that the only way to get into the car is to break a window.”
After the crash, witnesses attempted to extricate the two passengers by breaking the Tesla’s windows with a baseball bat as the vehicle was on fire. The flames forced the witnesses to move away from the vehicle and wait for emergency responders to arrive.
The lawsuit is seeking damages that include medical expenses, lost wages, and the wrongful death of Wendy Dennis, among other claims.
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