3 recent Piedmont High graduates killed, 1 injured in fiery Cybertruck crash: source
PIEDMONT, Calif. (KGO) -- Three young adults are dead and one is injured after a solo vehicle crash in Piedmont early Wednesday, police said.
A Tesla Cybertruck crashed at Hampton Road and King Avenue just after 3 a.m., where it also caught on fire.
Police say moments later a second car pulled up to the scene and the driver managed to pull one person out of the Cybertruck. That person was seriously injured and taken to the hospital.
A mother close to the families of the victims told ABC7 News all four people graduated from Piedmont High School in 2023 and were sophomores in college.
She said that two of the victims who died were men and the other was a woman. The person injured is a man who is now sedated and recovering from burn wounds post-surgery.
"We are just devasted. I know the family whose son is in the hospital right now. I know the other families," said Aileen Desoto, who has lived in Piedmont for the past 12 years, as she dropped off flowers at the crash site.
"I know he has surgery. He is in recovery. He had some burns. He is under sedation. So, we are hoping he recovers," she said.
"They are smart kids, they are good kids. They are also so, kids who were very supportive of their friends," said Sandy Martin, who was their middle school teacher.
While the cause of the crash is still being investigated, police say that the truck "jumped the curb, struck a cement wall, and then wedged in between the wall and a tree."
Police Chief Jeremy Bowers also said that speed was likely a factor. He says part of the investigation will be to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved.
Officials add, at this time there are no indications the truck had mechanical issues. Although they are still trying to determine how the truck caught fire.
"Due to the quick nature of being able to suppress the fire, we don't think the main lithium battery of the car were on fire. But that's going to be determined as part of the investigation," said Piedmont Fire Chief David Brannigan.
An iPhone from inside the vehicle notified police of the crash. Chief Bowers said officers found the Cybertruck on fire when they got to the scene and tried to extinguish it, but weren't able to until fire crews arrived to assist.
Chief Bowers said the victims may have been coming from a "function," but did not elaborate.
The crash happened in a residential neighborhood that rarely sees crashes or tragic incidents like this one. The mother who spoke to ABC7 News said the victims were soccer players and very popular.
Chief Bowers gave heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
"Our women and men who responded to this call did everything they could, it's devastating," he said. "But the devastation (for officers) pales in comparison to what these families are dealing with this morning, the day before Thanksgiving."
Chief Bowers said that Piedmont is a tight-knit community that will be deeply affected.
"This is a community that is going to rally around members that are affected by this tragedy, but there's no doubt, this is going to be immensely impactful to this community," Chief Bowers said. "It already has been and it will continue to be so."
Officials have yet to release any information about the four victims. But those who knew them described them as popular students and good athletes - four young people who known for their generosity.
"This shouldn't happen to any kids. But when you know them, it makes it worse," Martin said.
