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You know what doesn’t mix well? Scottsdale, Arizona heat, a young child, and a dead Tesla Model Y with no way to get inside. Well, that was the case for an exasperated grandmother as she watched firefighters deal with her stone-dead Tesla SUV to rescue her 20-month-old granddaughter. 

Firefighters had to break a window to save a child from a dead Tesla Model Y before Arizona heat harmed her

It’s a real concern for car-owning parents: discovering that your child or grandchild is locked inside with the car key and few options. Unfortunately for Renee Sanchez, her Tesla seemed to work against her. 

The Arizona grandmother strapped her 20-month-old granddaughter into a rear-facing child seat in the back of her Tesla Model Y. However, when she attempted to go around the car and climb into the driver’s seat, the Tesla was dead. So dead, in fact, that the Model Y refused the grandmother access to her granddaughter.

Understandably, Sanchez became concerned with the rising temperatures. “I could not get in. My phone key wouldn’t open it. My card key wouldn’t open it,” she told AZFamily. Her concern seems palpable. After all, this is summer in Scottsdale. Not exactly breezy. She called the emergency services, who dispatched the fire department to her aid. 

Check out the news video featuring the toddler-trapping Tesla Model Y below!

Not long after arriving on the scene, firefighters decided to extricate the child by breaking the Tesla Model Y’s window. Often, firefighters will use tape or a blanket to protect occupants from shards of glass.

“I don’t care if you have to cut my car in half. Just get her out,” she exclaimed as firefighters decided to damage the Tesla Model Y.  When I served in a fire department, we used a multitude of tools to break glass, from purpose-built window hammers to axes. In this case, the professionals used an axe to break the window. 

Fortunately, firefighters extracted the child before the heat could cause them any injury. Still, Sanchez was understandably angry at the failed 12-volt system. “When that battery goes, you’re dead in the water,” she said.

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Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).