Federal Investigators Examine Fatal Tesla Autopilot Crash in California
The NHTSA investigates a deadly Newport Beach crash involving a Tesla Model S that potentially uses the Autopilot system. This incident adds to a growing list of over 30 special crash investigations tied to Tesla's driver-assistance technology.
A U.S. federal agency investigates a fatal crash involving a 2022 Tesla Model S that potentially operates on the Autopilot system. The accident occurs in Newport Beach, California, when the vehicle hits a curb and slams into construction equipment, killing three people and leaving the car completely totaled.
This tragic collision is one of more than 30 crashes currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that potentially involve Tesla's advanced driver-assistance system. Out of 35 special crash investigations into Tesla since 2016, Autopilot is ruled out in only three cases, with 14 crash deaths reported across these inquiries.
Critics argue that Tesla's branding misleads drivers about the true capabilities of the technology. Despite the company's website stating that Autopilot requires active driver supervision, names like "Autopilot" and "full self-driving" lull users into a false sense of security even though the vehicles are nowhere near fully autonomous.