Tesla Full Self-Driving Crashes Pile Up Across California
A 71-year-old man was killed early Thursday after being struck on westbound Interstate 80 in Vallejo, California, by a Tesla whose driver told authorities that Full Self-Driving mode was engaged, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Pedestrian struck on westbound I-80
The crash occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 22. CHP identified the Tesla driver as a 26-year-old San Francisco man, who remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
The driver told officers the vehicle was traveling at about 70 mph and that it applied the brakes but could not avoid the pedestrian. The driver also provided dashcam footage to investigators, CHP said.
Authorities said at least one other vehicle may have struck the man but did not remain at the scene. The victim and driver had not been publicly identified in the available reports.
CHP investigating system involvement
CHP has not determined whether Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system contributed to the collision. Despite its name, the system is a driver-assistance feature that requires the driver to remain attentive and prepared to take control.
The agency’s Solano-area office is investigating the circumstances of the crash, including the pedestrian’s presence on the freeway and the vehicle’s operation before impact.
Second reported Tesla crash on I-80
The fatal collision was the second reported crash on Interstate 80 in October involving a Tesla that was allegedly operating in Full Self-Driving mode.
In a separate incident the previous week, a Tesla struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle from behind. Two CHP officers were briefly hospitalized after the crash. CHP later emphasized that Full Self-Driving is not a fully autonomous system.
