Promising young student, 20, suffered nightmarish injuries after his Tesla crashed into pole and was consumed by 'thermal chain reaction', lawsuit alleges

Published: 23:17, 16 May 2026 | Updated: 23:24, 16 May 2026 A promising 20-year-old college student suffered life-altering injuries after his crashed Tesla was engulfed in flames, according to a lawsuit against the electric vehicle maker.  Jay Kharbanda, a biochemistry major at Stony Brook University, alleges a defective battery design turned his 2024 Tesla Model 3 into a fireball after a collision with a roadside utility pole in Long Island. Kharbanda was driving to his home on June 30, 2025, when he says another vehicle turned in front of him in Dix Hills, about 40 miles east of Manhattan.  The collision sent the Tesla into the pole at the intersection of Old Country Road and Newtown Road in Plainview, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Brooklyn. ‘I blacked out,’ Kharbanda told the New York Post. ‘I just remember getting hit, and that’s it.’ The lawsuit alleges the impact caused the car’s high-voltage lithium-ion battery to fail ‘catastrophically,’ triggering a phenomenon known as thermal runaway, in which overheating battery cells ignite one another in a rapidly escalating chain reaction. Kharbanda’s lawyer, Scott Epstein, told the Post that the vehicle became ‘a literal hell on earth.’ Video of the crash shows flames shooting from the red Tesla as Kharbanda lay injured on the ground nearby. Kharbanda suffered third- and fourth-degree burns, underwent four surgeries and had several toes on his left foot amputated after the June 30 crash in Plainview, New York The lawsuit alleges a catastrophic battery failure triggered a 'thermal runaway' fire that left the aspiring doctor with more than $800,000 in medical bills Kharbanda said he does not know how he escaped the burning car. He was later told that the doors malfunctioned and bystanders smashed a window to pull him to safety.  He woke up at Nassau University Medical Center, where he spent two months undergoing painful treatment. The former high school sprinter suffered third- and fourth-degree burns to his lower legs, severe burns to his face and left hand, torn knee ligaments, and the amputation of several toes on his left foot. He underwent four surgeries, multiple skin grafts, and weeks of daily hyperbaric oxygen treatments. ‘I was coughing up and sneezing black soot for two or three weeks,’ Kharbanda told the Post. Kharbanda, who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, said the ordeal has left him too traumatized to drive. ‘I think Tesla should realize that their cars aren’t as safe as they make them out to be,’ he said. His father, Gagan Kharbanda, said the family expects to face at least $800,000 in medical bills. ‘I lost my whole world when I saw him,’ he told the Post. View this post on Instagram The June 30 crash in Plainview sent Kharbanda's Tesla into a utility pole before the vehicle erupted in flames, according to the lawsuit The aspiring doctor says he no longer drives and now relies on Uber or rides from his parents after the traumatic crash Jay Kharbanda, 20, a Stony Brook University biochemistry student, is suing Tesla after his 2024 Model 3 burst into flames following a crash on Long Island Kharbanda is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages intended to hold Tesla accountable. Tesla did not respond to the New York Post’s request for comment. Kharbanda said he now relies on Uber or rides from his parents. ‘I don’t think it’s worth it,’ he said. The Daily Mail has gone to Tesla for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.