Two officers injured after sleeping Tesla driver using self-driving mode crashes into police vehicle
Collision at a closed lane
The crash happened on Interstate 80 in the Bay Area on October 13, while officers were investigating another collision. They had blocked a lane with flares and cones, alongside flashing emergency lights.
The Tesla entered the restricted area and hit the occupied CHP vehicle. Two officers were injured, and dashcam footage from the patrol car captured the impact.
Driver’s claim and investigation
The Tesla driver, a 22-year-old from Sacramento, claimed he had been asleep at the wheel. The vehicle was operating in Full Self-Driving mode when it struck the police car.
CHP warns drivers
The California Highway Patrol cautioned that Full Self-Driving does not make a vehicle fully autonomous. The agency said drivers must monitor the system at all times. The warning follows the collision in a clearly marked closed lane, where emergency lights and traffic controls were in place.
Key points
- A Tesla struck an occupied CHP vehicle on Interstate 80 on October 13.
- Two officers were injured in the collision.
- The 22-year-old Sacramento driver said he was asleep while the Tesla was in Full Self-Driving mode.
- The CHP says drivers must supervise the system because it is not fully autonomous.