Tesla in 'Self-Driving' Mode Strikes and Kills Pedestrian on California Freeway
The driver told investigators the vehicle was operating in Full Self-Driving mode when it hit a 71-year-old man crossing Interstate 80.
A 71-year-old pedestrian was killed on Interstate 80 in Vallejo early Thursday morning after being struck by a Tesla that the driver claimed was in Full Self-Driving mode.
The collision occurred around 2:34 a.m. near the I-780 interchange, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The victim was reportedly crossing the freeway from the right shoulder toward the center divider when the Tesla, traveling at approximately 70 mph, hit him.
Video footage reviewed by the CHP showed the Tesla applying its brakes and steering left in an attempt to avoid the pedestrian. Despite these evasive maneuvers, the right front of the vehicle struck the individual. The pedestrian was subsequently hit by at least one other vehicle while lying in the traffic lanes.
The driver of the Tesla, a 26-year-old San Francisco man, stopped at the scene. Authorities have not yet identified any other motorists involved in the incident. Emergency personnel pronounced the Vallejo resident dead at the scene due to fatal injuries.
It remains unclear what led the pedestrian to be crossing the busy freeway in the dark. The CHP expressed condolences to the victim's family and friends.
This incident follows a separate collision days earlier where a driver, who claimed his Tesla was in Full Self-Driving mode while he was asleep, crashed into a CHP cruiser on a freeway, injuring two officers. Tesla's Full Self-Driving system requires drivers to remain alert and ready to take control, and California law holds drivers responsible for safe operation even when using such assistance systems.
The CHP is investigating the fatal Vallejo collision, but has not yet stated whether the vehicle's automated driving system contributed to the crash.