Tesla driver said he was asleep using FSD before crashing into highway patrol cars, report says
Crash at an earlier scene
CHP-released video shows a Tesla passing flares, cones and emergency lights before hitting the rear of a parked patrol vehicle. Officers had arrived at the I-80 location to respond to an earlier incident.
CHP said two officers were seriously injured and taken to a hospital. The driver said he was asleep while using the driver-assistance mode.
CHP stresses driver responsibility
After the crash, the California Highway Patrol cautioned that Full Self-Driving does not make a vehicle fully autonomous. The agency said drivers remain responsible for operating their cars safely.
The warning addresses the distinction between a system’s name and its capabilities. The account does not provide further details about the driver or the officers’ condition.
Federal scrutiny of driver assistance
Tesla added controls and alerts to Autopilot in 2023 to encourage drivers to remain in control when Autosteer is on. NHTSA subsequently opened another investigation to assess whether those changes were sufficient.
Key points
- CHP video shows a Tesla hitting a parked patrol vehicle at an I-80 emergency scene.
- CHP said two officers were seriously injured and taken to a hospital.
- The driver said he was asleep while using the driver-assistance mode.
- NHTSA has investigated Tesla’s driver-assistance features and later changes to Autopilot.