Woodcliff Lake Man Sues Tesla Over Fatal Autopilot Crash That Killed Entire Family in Woodbridge

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ — A tragic 2024 crash that killed a Woodcliff Lake family has led to a federal lawsuit against Tesla, filed by the surviving son, Max Dryerman. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla’s Autopilot system failed to prevent a deadly crash involving a 2024 Tesla Model S, resulting in the deaths of David, Michele, and Brooke Dryerman on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge.

🚗 The Fatal Tesla Crash: What Happened?

On their way home from a concert in September 2024, the Dryerman family’s Model S allegedly veered out of its lane and slammed into a concrete bridge pillar near mile marker 131. According to the lawsuit, the vehicle failed to engage any of its numerous safety features, including:

• Automatic emergency braking

• Forward and side collision warnings

• Lane departure avoidance

• Obstacle-aware acceleration

• Autosteer and full self-driving (FSD) while supervised

The accelerator pedal reportedly jumped from 0% to 100% without driver input, and no service brake was recorded, raising serious questions about the car’s autonomous functions.

📑 The Lawsuit Against Tesla

Filed in the U.S. District Court (District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage), the complaint names Tesla Inc. and CEO Elon Musk, claiming the company falsely advertised its Autopilot and Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) as superior to human drivers, misleading consumers into believing the vehicles could operate with minimal driver oversight.

Dryerman and family representatives — Renee Litwin and Carrie Chalup, executors of the estates — claim that Tesla’s promotional materials and reassurances about Autopilot safety misled their family, resulting in catastrophic consequences.

Key allegations include:

• Autopilot software is defective and unreasonably dangerous

• Tesla promoted a false sense of safety and autonomy

• Numerous previous crashes and fatalities tied to Autopilot were downplayed

⚖️ Legal Claims and Damages

The suit was brought under the New Jersey Products Liability Act and seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, as well as interest and legal costs. Tesla has not yet publicly responded to the claims.

💔 Community Response

The tragic loss rocked the Woodcliff Lake community. Hundreds gathered for a memorial vigil at Valley Chabad: Center for Jewish Life on September 15, 2024, to honor the lives of the Dryerman family.

A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $200,000 to support Max Dryerman’s return to college and contribute to charities in memory of his parents and younger sister.

🔍 Broader Implications

Tesla’s much-awaited Robotaxis finally hit the road in Austin: The company finally rolled out its hotly anticipated Robotaxi service for a select few users this week. The invite-only program featured Model Y vehicles cruising a geofenced area with human safety operators riding shotgun. Our social feeds were flooded with enthusiastic early testers describing the experience as “smooth”, “great”, and “normal”.

But the service has since hit some speed bumps: Just days into its test phase, a slew of videos popped up on social media showing the vehicles entering the wrong lanes, dropping passengers off in the middle of the road, speeding, and even driving over curbs. Though no accidents were reported, it has caught the attention of federal safety regulators.

This case adds to growing legal scrutiny around Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, which remain under investigation by multiple regulatory bodies. It highlights ongoing concerns that autonomous vehicle technology may be marketed beyond its actual capabilities, risking public safety.

 

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