Latest news with #MichaelSheehan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘Defectively designed' Cybertruck burned so hot in crash that the driver's bones literally disintegrated: lawsuit
A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Texas was unable to escape after rolling it into a ditch last year, experiencing an unthinkable demise as the batteries powering the $100,000 stainless steel SUV burst into flames with such intensity the helpless driver's skeletal system literally disintegrated, his family says. Michael Sheehan, 47, "burned to death at 5,000°F – a fire so hot his bones experienced thermal fracture," according to a gut-wrenching lawsuit his widow and parents have now filed against the electric auto manufacturer headed up by billionaire Elon Musk. "He was eight inches shorter in length than he was before he burned," attorney S. Scott West told The Independent. "That's thermal fracture." But Sheehan, who was the first-ever person to perish in a Cybertruck wreck since the model hit the market in November 2023, didn't have to die, said West, who worked as an industrial design engineer before becoming a lawyer. The suit by Sheehan's family says the single-vehicle crash would have normally been survivable, but that the "defectively designed" Cybertruck instead trapped the registered nurse inside and incinerated him alive. "Every religion has a version of hell, and every version of hell has fire," West said. "It is the most excruciating and longest torture of any death. Whether it's steam or fire or electrical, the nerves are literally exposed to everything. It's horrific. If you've ever been to a hospital burn unit, you'll hear patients begging the doctors to let them die because the pain is so bad." In the 10 months following Sheehan's ghastly death, West said he has been trying to reach a settlement with Tesla to avoid a lawsuit, he explained. However, West said, talks eventually collapsed and "we needed to move forward, for the family." A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. On April 25, 2024, Sheehan purchased a brand-new Cybertruck from a Tesla showroom in the Houston suburb of Cypress, Texas, according to his family's complaint, which was filed June 13 in Harris County District Court. Just 102 days later, the complaint says Sheehan was driving home when the Cybertruck 'left the road' and struck a large concrete culvert, after which the vehicle's 'hyper volatile' battery system went into 'thermal runaway' – a chain reaction of short-circuits ultimately resulting in uncontrollable temperature escalation – and caught fire. Once power was lost, it was impossible for Sheehan to open the Cybertruck's electrically operated doors in the normal way, the complaint goes on, highlighting a major issue that has similarly doomed others riding in Teslas. The external door handles also failed to work, and the emergency manual door release handles within the Cybertruck are 'unreasonably difficult to locate in an emergency,' the complaint states. 'Not only are you riding on top of 3,000 pounds of batteries, this 'spaceship' design is a double-edged sword,' West told The Independent, alleging that aesthetics took priority over functionality at Tesla when designing the Cybertruck. Among other shortcomings, Tesla could have chosen to use safer battery cells with slower thermal propagation, which are readily available, thus giving occupants more time to get out after a crash, according to the Sheehan family's complaint. Doing so would not have impacted the vehicle's utility, and alternative designs 'were both economically and technologically feasible,' it says. The filing also alleges Cybertrucks are 'not crashworthy,' due to the proximity of drive motors to battery modules, the faulty design of energy-absorbing structures in proximity to battery modules, and 'no consideration for movement of components during [a] crash sequence.' Further, the complaint maintains, Tesla provides '[i]nsufficient warnings or training to occupants regarding safe exit procedures post-crash.' 'Michael was a Mensa-level guy, very, very smart,' West said. 'But when Tesla delivered this [Cybertruck] to him, the instructions they gave him were woefully inadequate to handle a situation like this.' West 'felt like an idiot' the first time he ever drove a Tesla, he recalled. 'I couldn't figure out how to turn it on, I sat literally for nine minutes in a rental car parking lot,' West continued. 'That's the eternal factor in human error – it's incumbent upon you as a manufacturer to take extra steps to recognize that [new Tesla owners] need additional training.' West conceded that Sheehan 'had some alcohol in his system' at the time of the crash, which the complaint explicitly acknowledges. Still, he said, 'that shouldn't sign his death warrant.' In fact, it was Tesla's 'gross negligence' that caused Sheehan's untimely demise, according to the complaint. Three months after Sheehan died behind the wheel of his Cybertruck, three college students in Piedmont, California were burned to death in a Cybertruck that veered off the road and slammed into a tree. While one of the occupants was able to make it out alive, the flames were so hot, rescuers were unable to reach the others. In April, USC basketball recruit Alijah Arenas, son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, was placed in an induced coma, largely due to smoke inhalation, when the Cybertruck he was driving caught fire following a crash in Los Angeles. Tesla has issued at least eight recalls for the Cybertruck since its release, over problems ranging from malfunctioning accelerator pedals to faulty windshield wiper motors to body panels that suddenly began to delaminate. Cybertruck sales have struggled, with resale prices cratering, as other marques make large gains in a global electric vehicle market that was once Tesla's to lose. The brand has recently suffered a grievous blow to its image, resulting in plummeting sales and a sinking stock price, following Musk's ill-fated foray into politics, hitching his wagon to President Donald Trump as 'first buddy' and throwing thousands of federal employees out of work as titular leader of the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency. Beyond the Cybertruck, Tesla has faced lawsuits from others who say they were sold a bill of goods that didn't deliver. In December, the family of a California man who was crushed to death behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S in 'full self-driving mode,' sued the manufacturer over its allegedly bogus claims the vehicle could actually operate autonomously. Earlier this year, a Westchester County, New York, man sued Tesla after he claimed to have activated the autopilot feature in his Model Y sedan, which then promptly drove itself into a tree. Michael Sheehan, according to his obituary, enjoyed cooking for his wife and friends, had a passion for zombie movies and was blessed with a 'gentle spirit.' 'Knowing and loving Michael was a true joy,' his obit read. 'He made a profound impact on so many lives. He was unique, authentic, caring, funny and he lived his life unapologetically… Words cannot express the deep sorrow and devastation we feel in losing him.' West hopes the case will put the world's richest man on notice that his company's vehicles are unsafe for everyday use, he told The Independent. 'I'd love for them to put me out of business on Tesla Cybertrucks,' West said. 'There's my challenge to Elon. Put me out of business. Make these vehicles so safe that I don't have to do this anymore.' Sheehan's family is seeking undetermined monetary damages to be determined by a jury.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
‘Defectively designed' Cybertruck burned so hot in crash that the driver's bones literally disintegrated: lawsuit
A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Texas was unable to escape after rolling it into a ditch last year, experiencing an unthinkable demise as the batteries powering the $100,000 stainless steel SUV burst into flames with such intensity the helpless driver's skeletal system literally disintegrated, his family says. Michael Sheehan, 47, "burned to death at 5,000°F – a fire so hot his bones experienced thermal fracture," according to a gut-wrenching lawsuit his widow and parents have now filed against the electric auto manufacturer headed up by billionaire Elon Musk. "He was eight inches shorter in length than he was before he burned," attorney S. Scott West told The Independent. "That's thermal fracture." But Sheehan, who was the first-ever person to perish in a Cybertruck wreck since the model hit the market in November 2023, didn't have to die, said West, who worked as an industrial design engineer before becoming a lawyer. The suit by Sheehan's family says the single-vehicle crash would have normally been survivable, but that the "defectively designed" Cybertruck instead trapped the registered nurse inside and incinerated him alive. "Every religion has a version of hell, and every version of hell has fire," West said. "It is the most excruciating and longest torture of any death. Whether it's steam or fire or electrical, the nerves are literally exposed to everything. It's horrific. If you've ever been to a hospital burn unit, you'll hear patients begging the doctors to let them die because the pain is so bad." In the 10 months following Sheehan's ghastly death, West said he has been trying to reach a settlement with Tesla to avoid a lawsuit, he explained. However, West said, talks eventually collapsed and "we needed to move forward, for the family." A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. On April 25, 2024, Sheehan purchased a brand-new Cybertruck from a Tesla showroom in the Houston suburb of Cypress, Texas, according to his family's complaint, which was filed June 13 in Harris County District Court. Just 102 days later, the complaint says Sheehan was driving home when the Cybertruck 'left the road' and struck a large concrete culvert, after which the vehicle's 'hyper volatile' battery system went into 'thermal runaway' – a chain reaction of short-circuits ultimately resulting in uncontrollable temperature escalation – and caught fire. Once power was lost, it was impossible for Sheehan to open the Cybertruck's electrically operated doors in the normal way, the complaint goes on, highlighting a major issue that has similarly doomed others riding in Teslas. The external door handles also failed to work, and the emergency manual door handles in the Cybertruck are 'unreasonably difficult to locate in an emergency,' the complaint states. 'Not only are you riding on top of 3,000 pounds of batteries, this 'spaceship' design is a double-edged sword,' West told The Independent, alleging that aesthetics took priority over functionality at Tesla when designing the Cybertruck. Among other shortcomings, Tesla could have chosen to use safer battery cells with slower thermal propagation, which are readily available, thus giving occupants more time to get out after a crash, according to the Sheehan family's complaint. Doing so would not have impacted the vehicle's utility, and alternative designs 'were both economically and technologically feasible,' it says. The filing also alleges Cybertrucks are 'not crashworthy,' due to the proximity of drive motors to battery modules, the faulty design of energy-absorbing structures in proximity to battery modules, and 'no consideration for movement of components during [a] crash sequence.' Further, the complaint maintains, Tesla provides '[i]nsufficient warnings or training to occupants regarding safe exit procedures post-crash.' 'Michael was a Mensa-level guy, very, very smart,' West said. 'But when Tesla delivered this [Cybertruck] to him, the instructions they gave him were woefully inadequate to handle a situation like this.' West 'felt like an idiot' the first time he ever drove a Tesla, he recalled. 'I couldn't figure out how to turn it on, I sat literally for nine minutes in a rental car parking lot,' West continued. 'That's the eternal factor in human error – it's incumbent upon you as a manufacturer to take extra steps to recognize that [new Tesla owners] need additional training.' West conceded that Sheehan 'had some alcohol in his system' at the time of the crash, which the complaint explicitly acknowledges. Still, he said, 'that shouldn't sign his death warrant.' In fact, it was Tesla's 'gross negligence' that caused Sheehan's untimely demise, according to the complaint. Three months after Sheehan died behind the wheel of his Cybertruck, three college students in Piedmont, California were burned to death in a Cybertruck that veered off the road and slammed into a tree. While one of the occupants was able to make it out alive, the flames were so hot, rescuers were unable to reach the others. Tesla has issued at least eight recalls for the Cybertruck since its release, over problems ranging from malfunctioning accelerator pedals to faulty windshield wiper motors to body panels that suddenly began to delaminate. Cybertruck sales have struggled, with resale prices cratering, as other marques make large gains in a global electric vehicle market that was once Tesla's to lose. The brand has recently suffered a grievous blow to its image, resulting in plummeting sales and a sinking stock price, following Musk's ill-fated foray into politics, hitching his wagon to President Donald Trump as 'first buddy' and throwing thousands of federal employees out of work as titular leader of the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency. Beyond the Cybertruck, Tesla has faced lawsuits from others who say they were sold a bill of goods that didn't deliver. In December, the family of a California man who was crushed to death behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S in ' full self-driving mode,' sued the manufacturer over its allegedly bogus claims the vehicle could actually operate autonomously. Earlier this year, a Westchester County, New York, man sued Tesla after he claimed to have activated the autopilot feature in his Model Y sedan, which then promptly drove itself into a tree. Michael Sheehan, according to his obituary, enjoyed cooking for his wife and friends, had a passion for zombie movies and was blessed with a 'gentle spirit.' 'Knowing and loving Michael was a true joy,' his obit read. 'He made a profound impact on so many lives. He was unique, authentic, caring, funny and he lived his life unapologetically… Words cannot express the deep sorrow and devastation we feel in losing him.' West hopes the case will put the world's richest man on notice that his company's vehicles are unsafe for everyday use, he told The Independent. 'I'd love for them to put me out of business on Tesla Cybertrucks,' West said. 'There's my challenge to Elon. Put me out of business. Make these vehicles so safe that I don't have to do this anymore.' Sheehan's family is seeking undetermined monetary damages to be determined by a jury.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
'Habitual vandalism' threatening to spoil €1m project in New Ross town centre
Despite funding of almost €1m going towards its rejuvenation Brennan's Lane in New Ross continues to be a centre for anti-social behaviour and vandalism. Commencing in 2024, the laneway underwent a comprehensive refurbishment to enhance safety, accessibility, and vibrancy. The project was funded by a €500,000 grant from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and was further supported by match funding from Wexford County Council, with the backing of the elected members, bringing the total investment to €891,000. However, at the June meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD) Councillor Michael Sheehan said there were some who cared little for the new facilities. 'I want to condemn the anti-social behaviour and vandalism at Brennan's Lane, this has become a habitual issue now,' he said. 'The neighbouring businesses have to go down and take the plants off the roof every evening, because they've been ripped out of it several times. Having spent the amount of money that we did there this is disgraceful behaviour.' Cllr Sheehan received support from Cllr John Fleming who urged the district office to ensure the area was kept in good condition.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
'Blanket ban' on pets in tenancy agreements needs to be eliminated as study finds just 7 per cent of landlords allow dogs
As a result, Wexford councillor Michael Sheehan has called on Housing Minister James Browne TD, 'to amend section 12 of the Residential Tenancy Act 2004 to eliminate blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements thereby reducing the number of pets being surrendered and abandoned.' Submitting this motion at the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), Cllr Sheehan also provided figures from Dogs Trust which illustrated the number of healthy dogs being abandoned due to tenancy agreements with landlords. In 2024 Dogs Trust had more than one call or email a day (431 annually) on average from people needing to give up their dog because their move did not allow dogs. This is a 112 per cent increase from 2019 when the number was just 203, which, according to Dogs Trust, highlights a 'disturbing trend' affecting dogs and their owners. The charity said that, based on a search of all rental properties on in April of this year, only 7 per cent (132 out of 1871) of properties in Ireland allowed pets. 81 per cent of the 24,000 people surveyed by Dogs Trust – through Ireland's Dog Census – believe that dog owners should have the right to have a pet in rental accommodation said the charity. Discussing Cllr Sheehan's motion, Cllr Jim Codd noted that this issue also affected homeless people. 'Homeless people who have dogs are prevented from entering DePaul (homeless shelter) because of their pets. These dogs should be taken care of by the warden while their owners are in emergency accommodation,' he said. Cllr Vicky Barron added that the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) already catered for pets owned by homeless people, before the motion was subsequently passed. As a result WCC will now write to Minister Browne requesting an amendment to the Tenancy Act.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Uisce Éireann described as ‘biggest mistake' to ever happen in Ireland as Wexford council seeks ways to build in rural areas
With large swathes of the county unsuitable for new housing developments due to a lack of water services, Councillors John Fleming and Michael Sheehan cited potential changes to the County Development Plan (2022-2028) which would allow the council to rezone land for new housing projects. 'The County Development Plan is now open for review and there's an opportunity for this municipal district to have a say in the direction the town and villages will take over the next 15 years,' said Cllr Sheehan. 'There's vast tracts of land in this town that need to be rezoned for housing.' With regards to providing water services for housing developments which wouldn't have access to the Uisce Éireann (UE) mains, Cllr Marty Murphy said Wexford County Council (WCC) should simply proceed without the national utility company. 'My understanding is small developments in rural areas will be allowed to build their own treatment plants which is fantastic news, because our villages are dying due to planning laws,' he said. 'Do we have villages which will be targeted under that? We need to move on from UE because, as far as I'm concerned, it is the biggest mistake to ever happen in this country.' In response, a member of WCC planning team said they had not been informed of which villages had been targeted but they would find out and revert back to Cllr Murphy.
