A 71-year-old pedestrian has died after being struck by a Tesla on a California freeway. The driver told investigators the car was in “full self-driving” mode, according to the New York Post.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the crash happened early on Thursday on Interstate 80 near the Interstate 780 interchange in Vallejo. Officers were called at 2:34 a.m., and emergency personnel found the man, a Vallejo resident, had fatal injuries.
What investigators say
The New York Post reported that the driver, a 26-year-old man from San Francisco, told investigators the Tesla was in full self-driving mode at the time. The CHP said video reviewed by investigators showed the pedestrian walking from the right shoulder towards the centre divider and into the car’s path.
“The video showed the Tesla’s brakes being applied as the vehicle steered to the left in an effort to avoid the pedestrian. Despite these evasive actions, the right front portion of the Tesla struck the individual,” the agency said.
The CHP said the man was later hit by at least one other vehicle while he lay in the traffic lanes. The Tesla driver stopped at the scene, but the other motorists involved did not stay to cooperate with investigators, and they have not yet been identified.
Authorities have not established why the man was on the freeway or whether the Tesla’s self-driving system played a part in the crash. The CHP is investigating, and the Solano Area office offered condolences to the victim’s family and friends.
A second incident days earlier
The crash comes days after a 22-year-old Sacramento man allegedly drove a Tesla into a CHP patrol car at freeway speed, claiming he was asleep with the Full Self-Driving system engaged. Two officers were seriously injured.
What the system can and can’t do
Tesla’s full self-driving system can steer, change lanes and navigate roads and highways, but it is not fully autonomous. Drivers must stay alert and ready to take control. Under California law, drivers remain responsible for operating their vehicles safely even when using driver-assistance systems.
This report is based on an original story by the New York Post
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