A 70-year-old California woman who reportedly suffered serious injuries in a head-on collision with a Tesla Model Y in the Bay Area this summer has filed a lawsuit against the automaker, the driver, and the organizers of a nearby Cars & Coffee event.
According to a civil complaint filed in San Mateo County Superior Court, a Tesla representative was demonstrating the vehicle's performance for event photographers. The driver allegedly reached speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour on a stretch of road with posted speed limits of 35–40 mph; the complaint claims he lost control on a blind curve, and crashed into Michelle Brooks's Honda CR-V.
The incident occurred on August 30, 2026, according to the filing, along State Route 84 near La Honda, California. The lawsuit identifies the Tesla driver as 21-year-old Micah Zuglian, who was allegedly driving a company-owned Model Y while attending a Cars & Coffee gathering at Ambassador Wine Garden. According to the complaint, Zuglian took two photographers associated with the event for a drive to demonstrate the Tesla's performance. Images allegedly captured during the drive show the vehicle's speedometer displaying 83 mph; another image reportedly shows a speed of 61 mph near a posted 35-mph speed limit sign.
The lawsuit alleges that Zuglian subsequently crossed the double-yellow lines on the road and struck Brooks's 2014 Honda CR-V head-on. Brooks had to be transported to Stanford Hospital for treatment of her injuries, which reportedly included fractured vertebrae, fractured ribs, broken limbs, and a traumatic brain injury.
The complaint alleges that representatives from the California Highway Patrol, San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, and a county supervisor's office met with event organizers beforehand and urged them to cancel the gathering over traffic safety concerns. The suit claims that roads in the area are notorious for racing, and that in the past five years, more than 20 people have died and almost 800 have been injured in automobile crashes in the vicinity.
Brooks alleges that Tesla negligently entrusted the Model Y to its representative and failed to adequately supervise him. The complaint also alleges negligence by the event organizers for proceeding despite the reported safety concerns. The plaintiff is seeking damages and requesting a jury trial.
The lawsuit also names Ethan Garabedian, doing business as “9burgring,” which organized the gathering, and Ambassador Wine Bars LLC, which hosted it. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the filing of a lawsuit does not establish liability on the part of Tesla, Zuglian, or the event organizers.
