Bergen County Man Who Lost Entire Family In Tesla Crash Files Lawsuit

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Max Dryerman was at college in Philadelphia last summer when his parents and sister were killed in a crash on the Garden State Parkway in their Tesla. Now, Dryerman and two aunts have filed a federal lawsuit against the company.

As reported on Patch last year, Dryerman, then 19, of Woodcliff Lake, lost his sister Brooke, 17, and parents David and Michele when they were heading home at night from the Sea Hear Now music festival in Asbury Park.

READ MORE: Funds Raised For Surviving Son Of Family Who Died In Parkway Crash

Just before midnight on Sept. 14, their car veered off the Parkway in Woodbridge and hit a guardrail, state police told Patch at the time.

This week, lawyers for Dryerman and his two aunts filed a product liability suit in federal court.

Reuters reported that the car they were driving was a Model S, and that lawyers said various features of the car, including the self-driving mechanism, should have prevented the crash.

Last year, relatives and friends raised more than $150,000 for Dryerman. The fundraiser began as a way to give to his younger sister's favorite charities, and grew.

"Donations will go to support Max as he returns to college as well as charities of Max's choice," it said. "Max would also like to donate to an organization supporting teens battling anxiety and depression, as well as to Jewish causes."

One donor wrote, "Max, I never met you, but you are in my heart. No doubt you feel very alone, but you literally have an army of people behind you."

A video on Facebook shows the siblings singing and laughing on the second night of Hannukah when they were pre-teens.

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and damages.

PRIOR COVERAGE: Bergen County Teen Loses 3 Family Members In Garden State Parkway Crash