71-year-old man killed as Tesla in full self-driving mode hits him on California freeway

A 71-year-old man was killed after a Tesla operating in Full Self-Driving mode struck him while he was crossing a California freeway on October 22, authorities said. The crash occurred around 2:30 am on westbound Interstate 80 in Vallejo, near the Interstate 780 interchange. The Tesla was travelling at around 70 mph (112 kmph) when the pedestrian entered the freeway from the right shoulder, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from San Francisco, told California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers that the vehicle's Full Self-Driving system was engaged at the time of the collision. Dashcam footage reviewed by investigators showed the Tesla applying its brakes and steering to the left in an attempt to avoid the pedestrian. However, the car's front-right portion struck the man, CHP said. The driver stopped at the scene and provided the recording to officers. The pedestrian was left lying in a traffic lane and was subsequently struck by at least one other vehicle. First responders determined that he had suffered fatal injuries. No other drivers stopped at the scene.

CHP Officer Scott Heitman told the San Francisco Chronicle that the driver had not been cited. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, including why the pedestrian was on the freeway. Charges could still be considered if investigators establish that driver negligence contributed to the collision. Tesla describes Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as a driver-assistance system that can steer, change lanes and navigate intersections, but requires a fully attentive human driver who remains ready to take control. The system does not make a vehicle fully autonomous.

The fatal crash comes days after a separate incident involving a Tesla using Full Self-Driving on Interstate 80 near Fairfield, California. On October 13, a Tesla struck a California Highway Patrol patrol vehicle, injuring two officers inside. The 22-year-old driver from Sacramento reportedly told officers that he had fallen asleep while using the system. Three CHP patrol vehicles had their emergency lights activated as officers responded to an earlier fatal collision, with four lanes closed at the time. The Tesla drove through safety cones before hitting a CHP Dodge Charger. The latest incident has renewed attention on the limitations of driver-assistance technology and the responsibility motorists retain when using such systems. CHP has urged anyone who witnessed the October 22 crash, or who has information about the other vehicles that struck the pedestrian, to contact its Solano Area office.