A Cybertruck driver recently found himself in a terrifying situation after what he claims was an aggressive move by another motorist on a California highway ended with his truck upside down. The incident occurred in broad daylight near Ukiah, and the entire event was captured by the Tesla’s onboard cameras.

The footage, later shared on YouTube by the Wham Baam Teslacam channel, shows how the crash unfolded. A black Ram 1500 overtakes the Cybertruck, then abruptly cuts into the right lane just ahead of it. Moments later, the Ram driver taps the brakes, prompting the Cybertruck driver to move left in an attempt to pass. That’s when things take a turn – literally.

More: BMW M4 Took A Wrong Turn Into The Mountain

The Ram swerves into the Tesla’s path, pulling off what appears to be an unintentional PIT maneuver that forces the Cybertruck off the highway. As it veers off the road, the slad-sided electric truck slams sideways into a ditch, causing it to roll over. While the truck lay upside down, its sensors detected the crash and automatically alerted emergency services. Fortunately, the driver wasn’t seriously injured, though he was taken to the hospital by ambulance after reporting back pain.

Copart

According to the Tesla owner, he had no prior interaction with the Ram driver, something he says is backed up by the footage he shared with police. After reviewing the video, the California Highway Patrol has reportedly charged the Ram driver with vehicular assault, though official confirmation from authorities has not been released publicly.

More: Cybertruck Was Just Charging Until Chaos Showed Up With A V8 And No Grip

The aftermath wasn’t kind to the Tesla. The truck sustained heavy damage to its roof, wheels, suspension, and body panels. It later appeared on Copart, looking far worse for wear. Some parts may be salvageable, but the cost of repairing such a heavily damaged vehicle likely outweighs any benefit. The driver is presumably seeking reimbursement through his insurance provider.

As for motive, nothing has been officially confirmed. However, the incident brings to mind other recent reports of road rage or hostility directed at Tesla drivers. Unlike the usual vandalism or minor clashes, though, this sort of encounter could have ended far more dangerously. With any luck, the Ram driver, if found responsible, will think twice before acting on impulse behind the wheel.

Screenshot Wham Baam Teslacam/Copart

In early April, one of the first crash-damaged 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona models landed on our desks after it took a hefty side hit. It didn’t take long for the second one to show up just a few days later. Fast forward a few weeks, and now a third Charger Daytona is sitting at one of IAAI’s yards in the U.S., getting prepped for sale.

More: Want To Break Your Dodge Charger Daytona? Try Slamming Its Hood

This time, it’s the Charger Daytona Scat Pack model, and it’s currently in Atlanta, Georgia. The car was totaled with only 822 miles (1,322 km) on the odometer. Naturally, the insurer decided it wasn’t worth fixing, which, at least on the surface, seems like a bit of an overreaction. The damage doesn’t look that bad and could probably be patched up without much trouble at all.

The damage seems to be isolated to the rear of the car, most likely from a rear-end collision with another vehicle. There’s a chance the driver may have backed into something, but we’ll go with the rear-end theory for now. The rear bumper is broken, the tailgate has been knocked out of place, and one taillight is completely busted.

Some damage may have also been done to the rear crash structure of this Charger, but it’s hard to say based on these images alone. From what we can see, the car could be repaired with a new bumper, tailgate, taillight, and may also need a new rear window installed. Other than that, it looks mostly fine, and there’s no visible damage to the sides or front of the car. The impact also wasn’t severe enough to trigger the airbags.

Read: Can A HEMI V8 Save This Wrecked Dodge Charger Daytona EV From The Scrap Heap?

While the all-electric Charger hasn’t exactly set the world on fire nor gotten enthusiasts particularly interested, it’d be a shame if this car isn’t repaired. Yes, it’s electric, but it packs an impressive 670 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque thanks to a pair of electric motors. It also features a 100.5 kWh battery pack and can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.3 seconds, quicker than even an old Charger Hellcat Redeye with 797 hp.

And hey, if you’re feeling lucky and want to get your hands on what could be the next big project car, you can check out the listing for yourself over here.

IAAI

When it comes to testing high-profile vehicles, sometimes things go terribly wrong, and in the case of Edmunds’ Tesla Cybertruck, ‘terribly’ is putting it mildly. In July 2024, the outlet shelled out $101,985 for a brand-new Cybertruck Foundation Series to add to its One-Year Road Test fleet. By December 11, the truck was struck by a compact sedan while parked, pushing the 6,600-pound electric vehicle onto the curb. The damage was severe enough that it was written off entirely.

More: Tesla’s Cybertruck Rebranding Looks A Lot Like Ford’s F-150

On the outside, the wheel, tire, stainless steel panel and bumper bore the brunt of the impact. Things were much more serious under the skin though as, apart from the suspension, the rear drive motor, the rear-wheel steering setup, and lots of other parts were wrecked. No doubt, it was in a very sorry state, but things weren’t exactly peachy before the crash either.

Early Troubles: A Red Flag Parade

In fact, problems began soon after Edmunds took delivery of its Cybertuck and they included a number of critical steering failures, the EV going on limp mode or dying altogether, lots of errors showing up on the screen, the a/c not working on hot days, the transmission not selecting Park… you get the picture.

Definitely not confidence-inspiring for a $100k truck, no matter how hyped up it might be. In fact, the issues were so many they didn’t allow the team to perform its usual instrument testing procedure or even take it off-road.

The Great Repair Odyssey

Nevertheless, what spelled its demise was the aforementioned accident and attempts to get it fixed. Body shops dared not touch the Cybertruck, so their only recourse was Tesla‘s own service network. Problem number one: while one would expect Los Angeles, the city with the most Cybertrucks in the world, to have quite a few, there were just two within a 50-mile radius that were certified by Tesla to fix the EV’s steel body panels.

The first one, in Huntington Beach, gave them a one-month waiting period just to get an estimate on how much repairing it would cost. That was not all, though; they had to wait another six months for it to get fixed, which meant towing it to the shop to get an estimate, then towing it back and storing it somewhere, and finally towing it back again to get it back in working order. Naturally, Edmunds declined the offer.

More: Fisker Ocean Totaled After Tiny Door Ding Souring EV Dream

Things were much better at the second certified service center in Ontario. They still had to wait a month for an estimate, but after that the shop would instantly start working on the truck. So far, so good – until Tesla called a few days before the appointment and informed them it was pushed back a month due to the shop being overbooked.

Cybertruck Repair Costs

• Stripes and moldings: $619
• Motors and components: $4,191 (including $3,000 for an EV drive unit)
• Motor mounts: $77
• Wheels and parts: $1,758
• Steering: $2,040
• Rear suspension: $9,149 (including $2,500 for a new suspension crossmember)
• Cab and components: $3,800 (including $3,240 for a high-strength steel frame)
• Bed: $8,762.79 (including $1,595 for the outer panel, $4,280 for the aluminum rear section and $1,055 for the bed floor)
• Tailgate: $2,495
• Rear bumper: $2,417.73
• Rear body, lamps and floor plan: $1,668.50 (including $800 for the inner taillamp assembly)
• Miscellaneous parts: $357.22
• Other parts: $5
• Paint and materials: $610
• Tax on parts and materials: $3,320.65
• Labor: $16,584
• Sublet repairs: $25
• Grand total: $57,879.89

This time they decided to wait and, two months after the accident, had an estimate: it would cost them $1,128 to disassemble the truck and find out what had to be replaced or repaired. The quote, though, was a very unpleasant surprise; all in, they had to pay exactly $57,879.89.

The list of things that had to be fixed was too long, and the single most expensive item on it was the rear suspension at $9,149. Given that an example without prior damage was valued at $86,160, so theirs would sell for much less, it made no financial sense to proceed with repairs and it was considered a total loss.

The Final Blow

In the end, the outlet sold their Cybertruck to Copart for… $8,000! The only positive thing was that it received praise for its performance and ride comfort, as well as the design that, while controversial, at least (or rather because of it) drew a lot of attention. Other than that, not only did it not get to take part in the One-Year Road Test, but it became Edmunds’ biggest loss ever, a title that until then was held by the Fisker Ocean.

Lead image Edmunds

Tesla has settled a wrongful death lawsuit involving the 2021 death of a Model Y driver, likely in an effort to avoid the drama of a high-profile trial. While the exact terms of the settlement remain under wraps, it seems Tesla decided it was easier to pay up than continuing to fight it in US courts.

In April 2021 2021, 72-year-old Clyde Leach was driving his Tesla Model Y in Ohio when it apparently accelerated unexpectedly and speared off the road. It then slammed into a pillar at a gas station. Leach reportedly died from burns, blunt force trauma, and other injuries. His estate filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, with the case initially scheduled to go to trial in April 2026.

Read: Someone Already Crashed A 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper After Only 197 Miles

In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, both Leach’s estate and Tesla confirmed that a settlement had been reached for all claims.

The original lawsuit alleged that prior to the deadly impact, the Model Y’s automatic emergency braking system did not engage, nor did it deploy any other automation and safety mechanisms. Additionally, Leach’s estate claimed Tesla was aware of “numerous complaints of sudden acceleration” in its vehicles prior to the 2021 incident.

As we have seen in other instances in the past, Tesla denied the allegations, maintaining that Leach was solely responsible for the crash.

In October last year, Leach’s estate asked a San Francisco judge to sanction Tesla for stalling efforts to reach a settlement. They said a deal had been reached for a confidential amount, but later learned Tesla’s designee could not approve a settlement on his own.

This is not the first time that Tesla has settled a wrongful death lawsuit in the United States. In April 2024, the company settled a lawsuit filed by the family of Walter Huang, who was killed in 2018 while driving his Model X with the Autopilot features engaged.

Public opinion on Elon Musk isn’t exactly glowing these days, and that discontent isn’t limited to the United States. Across the Atlantic in the UK, backlash against Tesla and its high-profile CEO has been gaining steam.

Most recently, a group calling itself “Everyone Hates Elon” organized an event where a 2014 Tesla Model S was systematically destroyed in what they described as both a protest and a live art installation. The display was part of a broader campaign against Musk, which has been growing in visibility.

Read: Trump’s Commerce Secretary Said Tesla Stock Would Never Be This Cheap, The Market Called His Bluff

The black Model S was provided by an anonymous donor and placed at Hardess Studios in south London. Participants then vented their frustrations by smashing the electric sedan with sledgehammers and baseball bats. What started as a perfectly good Tesla ended up as one where every single body panel has been destroyed, and it looks like it’s been involved in a devastating crash.

The Everyone Hates Elon group appears to have gained traction through social media and has attracted attention with provocative materials, including stickers that read, “Don’t buy a Swasticar.”

Among those participating was Alice Rogers, a researcher from Illinois currently working at the University of Cambridge. She said the protest offered an outlet for frustration over what she sees happening back in the US.

“Musk is acting in ways which violate our constitution. I’m very concerned by what I’m seeing – he’s gutting agencies and cutting USAID,” she told The Guardian. Another participant, 32-year-old Giles Pearson, pinpointed Musk’s rightwing politics as the reason why he wanted to wreck the Model S.

Anti-Musk Actions Escalate in the UK

The campaign against Musk has intensified across the UK, with guerrilla-style messaging appearing in public spaces. Fake advertisements have popped up at bus stops with slogans like, “Autopilot for your car. Autocrat for your country”, “Now With White Power Steering,” and “The Fast and the Führer.”

The New York Times reports that several anti-Musk groups have popped up across Europe, many of them sharing the dual aim of damaging Tesla’s brand and sinking its stock value. Some are explicitly focused on disrupting sales and targeting the company’s public image.

“There’s never been a target exactly like this,” John Gorenfeld from the ‘Takedown Tesla’ group said. “Nobody who is that rich and powerful has behaved that outrageously. There’s something campy and ridiculous about Musk’s brand of toxicity. And it opens up a real space to ridicule.”

Screenshot Wion via YouTube

We all knew this was coming, or at least, we should have. Actually, it already happened once. The all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona only began deliveries earlier this year, but now a second wrecked example has surfaced at auction in Florida. And while it might be repairable, given the lukewarm reception to Dodge’s electric muscle car, we’re not holding our breath for a heroic restoration.

This dark blue Charger Daytona was involved in a wreck with just 1,085 miles (1,746 km) on the clock and is in a very sorry state. We don’t know exactly what happened, but the damage appears to be limited to the driver’s side. In all likelihood, it was either T-boned by another car or perhaps slid sideways into something, but that seems less likely as all four wheels look pristine.

More: First Wrecked Dodge Charger Daytona EV Surfaces

The driver’s door has been caved in from the impact, and the dents extend across part of the rear quarter panel. The impact was also strong enough to trigger the side curtain airbags, which more often than not turns a crash into an insurance write-off. Even though the Charger is almost brand-new, it seems the insurer decided it wasn’t worth repairing, perhaps in part because spare parts could be in short supply and some damage may have been done to the frame.

If the door and rear quarter panel are the only areas of damage, they should be easy enough to replace if anyone wants to be brave and revive this Charger Daytona. The Copart listing notes it’s the flagship Scat Pack model, meaning it has a pair of electric motors with a combined 670 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. These motors are fed by a 100.5 kWh battery pack.

Watch: Dodge Charger Still Thinks It’s 1970 And Racing Ford’s Fastest EV Just Proved It The Hard Way

And then there’s the wildcard option. Somewhere, a Dodge traditionalist is already grinning through a cloud of tire smoke, dreaming of yanking out the EV guts and shoehorning in a good old-fashioned HEMI V8. Would it be completely unnecessary and gloriously chaotic? Absolutely. But if there were ever a platform ripe for an identity crisis, it’s this one. Well, we don’t technically know if it’s possible, but hey, when has that ever stopped someone with a welder, a questionable parts stash, and a dream?

If nobody steps up to repair it, or commit heresy by stuffing a gas engine under the hood, there’s always the fallback plan: part it out. The battery and motors alone could find new life in some future EV project. Then again, given how early we are in this car’s life cycle, even that seems like a stretch. Either way, this Charger Daytona’s next chapter probably won’t look anything like Dodge imagined.

Copart

Tensions surrounding Elon Musk’s controversial public image continue to spill over—sometimes literally—onto Tesla vehicles. Police in Kentwood, Michigan, are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men believed to be involved in the vandalism of five Cybertrucks. As attacks on Tesla vehicles spread across the United States, some police departments are ramping up efforts to track down those responsible.

The vandalism took place on March 10, when five Cybertrucks were targeted while parked in a lot outside Woodland Mall. Each vehicle was spray-painted overnight, with one bearing the message “Nazis always lose” across its doors, a likely jab at Elon Musk and the widely criticized salute he made during President Donal Trump’s inauguration.

Read: Tesla Vows To Prosecute Vandals Over Swastikas, But Owners Have Little Recourse

Photos published by the Kentwood Police Department and shared by Fox17 show two young men who could be tied to the vandalism. One of them was wearing a green hoodie, blue jeans, and white shoes and was spotted near the area, while another had a blue and white hoodie, a beanie, black pants, and black shoes. Local authorities are urging anyone who recognizes the men to contact them immediately.

This is far from the only recent case of vandals attacking Tesla vehicles and property with Nazi-related messages. In February, a Cybertruck parked on the road in Lower Manhattan had a huge swastika painted across its side, while at around the same time, a Tesla Supercharger was also defaced with a Nazi message and a swastika.

The pattern of vandalism has even extended to Tesla’s own facilities. Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are currently investigating a separate incident in which a window was damaged at a local Tesla manufacturing site. According to reporting from MLive, the damage occurred sometime between March 28 and March 31.

Some law enforcement officials appear to be losing patience. Last week, Sheriff Richard Jones from Butler County, Ohio, described Tesla vandals as “fat people that live in their mom’s basement and wear their mom’s pajamas” and warned that anyone caught damaging a Tesla in his jurisdiction could face jail time.

While the motivations behind these attacks vary, police departments across the country are stepping up efforts to identify suspects and prevent further incidents. For now, investigators in Kentwood are hoping the public can help close the loop on their latest case.

Xiaomi’s team has been showered with praise in recent months and has probably become used to reading nothing but positive headlines. However, the Chinese carmaker is now hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, after the first major accident involving the SU7 sedan resulted in three fatalities. The incident has cast a shadow over the tech giant’s automotive ambitions and raised tough questions about the safety and reliability of advanced driver-assistance systems.

On March 29, a Xiaomi SU7 was traveling in China with three passengers onboard. The vehicle was driving along the Dezhou–Shangrao Expressway in Anhui Province with its Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) system engaged, maintaining a steady speed of 116 km/h (72 mph). As it approached a construction zone and a lane closed off with barriers, the SU7 struck a concrete divider at 97 km/h (60 mph), sparking a fire that ultimately engulfed the car.

Read: Xiaomi Aims To Sell More EVs In China Than All German Brands Combined

Shortly after the crash, Xiaomi released a timeline detailing the moments leading up to the collision. At 10:44:24 p.m., the SU7’s Navigate on Autopilot system issued a warning—“Obstacle ahead”—and began braking. One second later, the driver took control, steering left by 22.06 degrees and applying 31% brake pressure. Another second later, they adjusted slightly to the right by 1.06 degrees and increased braking to 38%. Despite these apparent efforts to avoid the crash, the vehicle struck the concrete barrier.

The impact immediately triggered the eCall emergency system. Within 20 seconds, the registered owner of the SU7 was contacted and confirmed he was not the driver. An ambulance was dispatched and arrived around 11 p.m., but tragically, all three occupants had already died.

The Xiaomi SU7 vehicle in China was driving at 116km/h in NOA on the highway, with the last speed reported to be 97km/h just before the collision with the guardrail.

A fire broke out after the collision, killing all three female college students in the vehicle.

Xiaomi issued a… pic.twitter.com/nxHGGYXhOR

— Tsla Chan (@Tslachan) April 1, 2025

Xiaomi says it is fully cooperating with local investigators to determine the cause of the crash. According to Reuters, which cited reporting from the Chinese newspaper Economic Observer, the father of one of the victims was told by local police that the car key failed to unlock the doors after the impact. In a statement, Xiaomi said it has not yet been able to confirm whether the doors could be opened at the time of the accident.

Shares in the Chinese technology giant fell 5% after word of the crash became public. Company boss Lei Jun has vowed to “respond to the concerns of families and society,” while investigating the crash.

Photos Weibo / Shine

Another Tesla Cybertruck has been wrecked, and this time it’s not because it’s been attacked by vandals angry at the automaker’s CEO Elon Musk, or due to some alleged failure of the driver-assist systems. Instead, a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen was the culprit after its driver reportedly suffered a medical emergency, plowing into no fewer than seven vehicles. The Cybertruck took the worst of it, with its bed ripped clean off in the chaos.

Footage and images from the scene show a dark-colored Cybertruck brandishing promotional graphics for Keane Landscaping (they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?) cut in half in the road outside the Dallas Cowboys HQ.

Related: Someone Egged A Cybertruck And Wiped Dog Poop On It

The front end of the truck appears untouched, but everything behind the rear seats is gone, including the bed, frame, and the suspension, motor, and wheels, which can all be seen lying several feet away. Of the eight vehicles involved in the smash, the Cybertruck definitely came off worst, but that doesn’t mean the other cars which, like the Tesla, were all parked and unoccupied, didn’t take some serious hits.

A Ford Mustang, F-series truck, Hyundai Santa Fe, Tesla sedan, and others received major panel damage, but spare a thought for the Mercedes G-wagon, which was given such a smack it was flipped onto its roof and can be seen being righted in CBS’s video.

Police say the accident in Frisco, Texas, was the result of the Mercedes G-Wagen driver suffering a medical episode while behind the wheel last Friday, driving at the intersection of Avenue of the Champions and Cowboys Way. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to news reports, and won’t be charged with any driving offenses.

Looking at the amount of damage caused, he must have really hoofed that right pedal, with disastrous, but thankfully not fatal consequences. We imagine that in the future, car safety systems might be able to spot and prevent accidents like this, but until that happens, you might want to stay clear of powerful trucks with super-fast acceleration and curb weights flirting with the 6,000-pound mark, especially if you’re on foot.

Image credit: Dianne Everett/CBS News

Well, it was inevitable. The first crashed 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona, or at least the first one we know about since customers started getting their hands on them, has made its appearance online. And because the universe has a sense of humor, it’s already up for sale. If you’re one of those people who loves a good gamble and prefers your vehicles with a touch of “character,” this is your lucky day.

More: Someone Already Crashed A 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper After Only 197 Miles

This particular wreck is a 2024 Charger Daytona R/T, which is the base model starting at $59,595, before you start adding options like the $595 Demonic Red seats this one comes with, or deducting the sweet discounts running up to $21,000 some dealers are offering just to move these things off the lot.

Being an R/T, it features a 93.9-kWh nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery powering front and rear motors, delivering up to 496 horsepower and a solid 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds.

What Happened to This Daytona?

Photos IAAI

Now, onto the important stuff—the damage. This one didn’t make it past its first 682 miles (just under 1,100 km) before finding its match. From what we can gather, it either had a mild run-in with another car or maybe just collided with a stationary object. Who can really say?

While the front-end damage doesn’t seem catastrophic at first glance, it was enough to trigger the driver’s airbag, which we all know is usually the kiss of death for a car’s viability in the eyes of an insurance company. So, the insurance folks did what they do best and decided to write it off and call it a day.

More: Dodge Charger Rumored To Get Hemi V8 Power In 2026

On the outside, the damage on the electric Dodge seems pretty concentrated at the front: bumper, LED lights, and hood all took a hit. What lies beneath the sheet metal? Well, your guess is as good as ours. It’s entirely possible there’s more hidden damage under the surface, but for the right price, a skilled repair shop or even someone with some mechanical know-how might be able to bring this Charger Daytona back to life.

Feeling Lucky?

If you’re feeling adventurous and willing to take the risk the insurance company wasn’t, this Charger Daytona R/T is now up for auction at IAAI’s Texas division. You can check out the listing here before it hits the block in a few days. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to take on this crashed Daytona and give it a second chance for a price that won’t make you cry.

Photos IAAI

The first US deliveries of the revamped Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ in Launch Edition trim only kicked off earlier this month, and already, one has met an untimely end in a crash. While it’s unclear whether the driver of this particular Model Y was responsible for the havoc it now finds itself in, there’s probably not much point in trying to rescue it. If anything, it might be better off as a donor car for parts.

Read: Tesla Has Less Than 50 Old Model Ys Left, Standard Juniper Launch Imminent

The electric vehicle is up for sale at Copart’s Houston, Texas, facility, which suggests it may never have strayed far from its birthplace in the Lone Star State. The driver’s side of the Model Y still looks spotless, but the same can’t be said for the passenger side, which is an absolute mess.

Major Damage

One of the Tesla’s front wheels has been torn off, complete with the hub, brake caliper, and brake disc, only leaving behind some suspension arms. The front quarter panel has also been destroyed and is covered in deep dents and scratches. Additionally, the front door has been ruined, as has the wing mirror.

Listings like this never provide details about how a vehicle ended up in such a sorry state, but it’s safe to assume this Model Y took a hefty hit because ripping off a wheel and hub like this doesn’t happen in a minor fender bender. Curiously, the impact does not appear to have triggered any of the Model Y’s airbags, which is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Photos Copart

On the bright side, the cabin appears to be in decent shape, although it could do with a thorough cleaning. A look at the car’s infotainment screen reveals it has just 197 miles (317 km) under its belt and was fitted with Full Self-Driving, which comes as standard on all Launch Edition trims.

The listing also confirms that the EV still powers on, which suggests that the battery pack and electric motors might have come through the crash relatively unscathed.

More: We Compare The New ‘Juniper’ To The Old Model Y Side-By-Side

So, if you had the money to pick up this wrecked Model Y, would you try your hand at fixing it and getting it back on the road, or would you strip it for parts and make some cash off the more valuable components?

So, if you had the cash to pick up this wrecked Model Y, would you attempt to repair it and get it back on the road, or would you strip it for parts and cash in on some of the pricier components? And just for kicks, how much do you think this thing is worth in its current state—keep in mind, the original MSRP was $59,990?

Photos Copart

Extinguishing a fire in an electric vehicle is not your average firefighting job. It’s much trickier than putting out a blaze in a traditional combustion engine car, often requiring huge amounts of water—or, in some cases, submerging the whole car in a massive water tank.

Earlier this week, fire crews in Granite Falls, Washington, faced this exact challenge, but with a twist: they used a specially designed fire blanket to tackle the EV fire.

According to Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue, an EV caught fire while driving on SR-92 early Monday morning. All vehicles used by local fire crews carry a special EV blanket for a situation like this. To quell the flames, the blanket is placed over the car while the battery pack is doused in water.

Read: Tesla Under Siege As Multiple EVs Set On Fire And Vandalized Across The US In One Day

EV fires generate tremendous amounts of heat and, unlike combustion-powered cars, can burn without oxygen. There have also been plenty of cases of EVs reigniting days or even weeks after the initial thermal event. To reduce the risk, local fire crews followed the flatbed transporting the EV to a local impound lot for storage.

The exact make and model of the EV involved in this incident has not been revealed. However, Granite Falls Fire made it clear on their Facebook page that the fire was not caused by an impact.

Are EV Fires Really That Common?

While EV fires often make headlines, the numbers tell a different story. According to data from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, there are about 25 fires for every 100,000 EVs sold in the U.S. That sounds concerning until you compare it to the 1,530 fires per 100,000 for gas-powered cars. So, despite the attention they grab, EV fires are still much rarer than those in traditional vehicles.

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A post shared by Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue (@snoregionalfire)

Photo Snoregionalfire

The number of attacks on Tesla cars and company facilities across the United States shows no sign of slowing down. In the span of just 24 hours, the EV brand has been targeted in cities like Las Vegas, Kansas City, San Diego, and more. These incidents come at a time when Tesla’s stock price is in freefall, and Elon Musk continues to stir controversy and make headlines.

One of the most significant attacks happened in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. According to local police officials, a still-unidentified individual threw several Molotov cocktails and fired shots into a line of Teslas parked at one of the company’s collision centers.

Read: Tesla Owners Brace For Soaring Insurance Costs And Even Bans As EV Attacks Escalate

Authorities say the attack took place around 2:45 a.m., with the suspect wearing all-black attire. By the time police arrived, two Teslas were fully engulfed in flames. Security footage from the scene captured the vehicles burning. In addition to the arson, the suspect spray-painted the word ‘resist’ on the facility’s front doors, leading authorities to label the attack as “targeted” and possibly driven by a “political agenda”.

This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong.

Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks. https://t.co/Fh1rcfsJPh

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2025

Elon Musk quickly addressed the violence on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the attack in no uncertain terms: “This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong. Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.”

Kansas Attacks

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Missouri, two Cybertrucks were set ablaze at a local Tesla dealership on Monday. A local police officer first noted one of the Cybertrucks on fire, and while local fire crews responded to the scene, they weren’t quick enough to avoid a second Cybertruck catching fire. Both EVs suffered extensive damage and are likely not repairable

Local authorities, including the Bomb and Arson Unit, were quickly joined by the FBI and ATF to investigate the incident, reports KMBC.

Vandals Strike Illinois And California

The vandalism isn’t confined to arson. In Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a Tesla dealership was targeted earlier this week, though no vehicles were harmed. Instead, a vandal painted disparaging remarks about President Trump and Elon Musk on the windows. They added that “Trans rights are human rights.” In this case, police have arrested a woman in connection with the vandalism, and she is facing criminal damage to property and trespassing charges, ABC7 reports.

The attacks don’t stop there. Further west, in Encinitas, California, a Tesla location was defaced with swastikas and profanity sprayed on both cars and dealership windows. The police have yet to make any arrests or identify suspects in this case.

Screenshot via Las Vegas Review-Journal

Testimony from a witness to a fatal crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in Piedmont, California, last November has raised concerns about both the vehicle’s safety features and the reckless behavior of those involved. According to US court documents, the driver and three passengers were under the influence at the time of the accident, while it was also revealed that the doors could not be opened.

Three of the four occupants of the Tesla were killed in the devastating crash. The family of Matthew Riordan owned the Cybertruck, and he told investigators that his friend, 19-year-old Soren Dixon, had begged him to take the truck out while at a party. Riordan ultimately relented, allowing Dixon to drive the Cybertruck, with friends Jack Nelson, Krysta Tsukahara, and Jordan Miller joining for the ride. Riordan followed behind in another car and witnessed the crash.

Read: Feds Looking Into Fatal Tesla Cybertruck Crash That Killed Three Teens

An autopsy later revealed that Dixon was twice the legal alcohol limit at the time of the crash and also had cocaine and methamphetamine in his system. In interviews with investigators, Riordan stated that he frantically tried to save the others but was only able to pull Miller from the wreckage.

“I could hear Krysta yelling and the car saying ‘crash detected,” Riordan said. “I went back to the broken window and yelled for them to try to get out at this window … Krysta tried to come up, sticking her head (out) from the back, I grabbed her arm to try and pull her towards me, but she retreated because of the fire.” He also tried the doors, but they wouldn’t budge.

“Nothing budged at all,” he said. “I then tried the button on the windshield of Jordan’s door, then Krysta’s door,” but he couldn’t open the doors. Riordan was only able to pull Miller from the burning Tesla after desperately smashing a window with a tree branch.

It’s unclear why Riordan wasn’t able to open the doors of the Cybertruck, but it’s quite possible they had automatically locked when Dixon started driving and couldn’t be opened from the outside. An official report from the California Highway Patrol has blamed the crash on a combination of alcohol intoxication, drug impairment, and unsafe speeds.

However, it’s worth noting that Tesla models, including the Model Y and Model S, do have a feature that automatically unlocks the doors when the airbags have been fired. Many other cars also have this feature, but we haven’t been able to verify if the Cybertruck also has this function.

A key issue with the Cybertruck is that it doesn’t have any exterior door handles. Instead, you need to press a button on the pillar to unlatch the door, and finding those buttons in the midst of a blazing inferno could be very difficult.