A Tesla Model S driver allegedly had the carmaker’s controversial ‘Full Self-Driving’ autonomous system engaged when he crashed into and killed a motorcyclist in Seattle, according to state police.
As reported by The Associated Press, the Tesla driver caused a fatal crash on April 19, later telling Washington State Patrol officers he had the vehicle’s ‘Autopilot’ software engaged and was looking at his mobile phone in the moments prior to the incident.
However, according to the news agency, police later found Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software – claimed to be more capable than Autopilot – was being used.
While Autopilot provides common semi-autonomous driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and highway lane-change assist, Tesla claims Full Self-Driving can stop, steer and accelerate with the ability to follow navigation.
However, the owner’s manual warns drivers must be prepared to take over control at any time – either for emergencies or in case of a failure with the technology – while the use of a mobile phone while driving in its semi-autonomous mode is also forbidden.
For his role in the crash, the Tesla driver was reportedly arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, however he has not yet been charged.
The publication also reports the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – the country’s road safety regulator – has said it “is aware of this crash and is gathering information from local law enforcement and Tesla”.
It’s understood to be the second fatality recorded by the NHTSA involving a Tesla with Full Self-Driving engaged, however the autonomous technology hasn’t been explicitly blamed for either crash.
Last month, another Tesla Model S driver allegedly using their mobile phone while driving had the system engaged when they ploughed into a police car that was at the scene of a prior car crash.
The NHTSA has also previously found at least 14 deaths have occurred from crashes involving Tesla vehicles which had Autopilot engaged at the point of impact.
Tesla has repeatedly been cleared of any fault in a number of high-profile lawsuits brought against it for fatal crashes involving its Autopilot system.
In July 2023, a court found the driver of a Tesla Model S which ran a red light and killed two people in a crash was at fault for the incident, not the Autopilot system which was engaged at the time.
This was followed in November by Tesla also being cleared of fault for another fatal crash. This involved a Model 3 driver who was killed after the electric sedan veered off the road and into a tree at 105km/h, also with Autopilot engaged.
