Tesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD when he crashed into highway patrol cars
A 22-year-old Sacramento man seriously injured two California Highway Patrol officers after his Tesla crashed into a patrol car on I-80 in Fairfield. The driver told authorities he was asleep while using Full Self-Driving mode. The vehicle drove through emergency flares and traffic cones before striking the occupied cruiser west of Air Base Parkway. Federal regulators and the CHP are now investigating the incident, which occurred on a Tuesday night. CHP noted that no specific law currently names the offense of sleeping while using self-driving software.
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- ✓ A Tesla driver told CHP he was asleep with Full Self-Driving on when he hit a patrol car on I-80 in Fairfield.
- ✓ Two officers were seriously injured in the collision.
- ✓ The driver is a 22-year-old man from Sacramento.
- ✓ The vehicle struck an occupied patrol car despite the presence of road flares, traffic cones, and flashing emergency lights.
What changed
Federal regulators have launched an investigation into the crash.
Live updates
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Tesla Driver Claims He Was Asleep Using FSD During CHP Crash
A 22-year-old Sacramento man seriously injured two California Highway Patrol officers after his Tesla crashed into a patrol car on I-80 in Fairfield. The driver told authorities he was asleep while using Full Self-Driving mode. The vehicle drove through emergency flares and traffic cones before striking the occupied cruiser west of Air Base Parkway. Federal regulators and the CHP are now investigating the incident, which occurred on a Tuesday night. CHP noted that no specific law currently names the offense of sleeping while using self-driving software.
Why it matters
This incident raises questions about the safety and driver-monitoring capabilities of Tesla's Full Self-Driving system. It highlights a legal gray area regarding operator responsibility when automated systems are active. The crash occurred at the scene of another existing accident.
What is confirmed
- A Tesla driver told CHP he was asleep with Full Self-Driving on when he hit a patrol car on I-80 in Fairfield.
- Two officers were seriously injured in the collision.
- The driver is a 22-year-old man from Sacramento.
- The vehicle struck an occupied patrol car despite the presence of road flares, traffic cones, and flashing emergency lights.
- The crash happened Tuesday night west of Air Base Parkway.
- Federal regulators are investigating the crash.
What to watch next
- Findings from the federal regulatory investigation
- Legal charges filed against the driver
- Tesla's response regarding the system's driver-monitoring failure
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (21)
- KRON4 — Sleeping Tesla driver crashes into CHP Solano vehicle, seriously injuring 2 officers
- CBS News — Video shows Tesla hit CHP car on I-80 in Fairfield; driver says he slept with Full Self-Driving on
- ABC7 Bay Area — VIDEO: Driver asleep as Tesla in self-driving mode plows into scene of crash on I-80 in Fairfield
- KMPH Fox 26 — CHP: Tesla driver says he fell asleep in Full Self-Driving before hitting CHP cruiser
- The Independent — Sleeping Tesla driver using self-driving mode crashes into police car injuring officers
- The Verge — Tesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD when he crashed into highway patrol cars
- SFGATE — Sacramento man driving Tesla allegedly falls asleep, injures officers
- electrek.co — Tesla driver says he was asleep on FSD when he hit CHP car, 2 officers hurt
- nypost.com — Sleeping Tesla driver crashes into California patrol car ...
- www.nbcbayarea.com — Driver says he was asleep when Tesla crashed into CHP patrol ...
- KQED — After Sleeping Tesla Driver Crashes Into Patrol Car, CHP Investigates
- Yahoo — Tesla Driver Says He Was Asleep With FSD On When He Hit Police Car
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