Alijah Arenas' Close Call: A Fight for Survival in a Burning Tesla

Alijah Arenas, a promising basketball recruit from Southern California, recently shared his harrowing experience of a car crash that left him in a critical state. The incident occurred last April when his Tesla Cybertruck collided with a tree, trapping him inside as flames spread through the vehicle. Arenas described the terrifying moments after the crash. He was disoriented and panicked as smoke filled the cabin, and the doors refused to open. He tried to use his digital key to escape, but the Tesla app had locked him out. He moved to the back seat, attempting to break the window, but his efforts were unsuccessful. With time running out, Arenas grabbed a water bottle to cool himself down. He spent nearly 10 minutes in the burning car before finally managing to break the driver's side window. He fell into a few inches of water from a broken fire hydrant, where bystanders helped pull him to safety. Arenas spent six days in the hospital but did not suffer major injuries. His story raises questions about the safety features of modern vehicles and the importance of quick thinking in emergencies.