Tesla Driver in California Blames Autopilot for Firetruck Crash, Arrested for DUI
Authorities say a Tesla driver, who said he thought his car was in Autopilot mode, crashed into the back of a firetruck in San Jose.
The California Highway Patrol says the Tesla rear-ended a fire engine that was stopped with its emergency lights activated along US-101 around 1 a.m. Saturday.
The 37-year-old driver, Michael Tran, told officers, “I think I had auto-pilot on.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the two firefighters in the firetruck were not injured. The newspaper says Tran and a female passenger in the Tesla were taken to San Jose Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.
Tesla’s semi-autonomous Autopilot mode has come under scrutiny following other recent crashes. The carmaker says the function is not designed to avoid a collision and warns drivers not to rely on it entirely.
It was unclear whether Autopilot was activated. Tesla says in a statement that it “has not yet received any data from the car, but we are working to establish the facts of the incident.”
Related:
- IIHS Tests Expose Risks of Semi-Autonomous Driving Systems
- Safety Agency to Watch Tesla Car Fire Exam Following California Incident