A 71-year-old man was killed while crossing Interstate 80 in Vallejo, California, after a Tesla operating in Full Self-Driving mode struck him, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision happened on Oct. 22 around 2:35 a.m. on westbound I-80 near the I-780 interchange. The driver, a 26-year-old man, told officers the vehicle was engaged in Full Self-Driving autonomous mode, KGO-TV reported.
Here's what to know
When emergency crews reached the scene in Vallejo, they found the pedestrian critically injured.
He was later pronounced dead.
The driver, identified by the CHP as a 26-year-old from San Francisco, remained at the crash site and told officers that Full Self-Driving mode was engaged at the time of impact.
Officials in the CHP's Solano-area office said the Tesla's dashcam recorded the incident.
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According to investigators, the video shows the car moving at roughly 70 mph when the 71-year-old stepped from the right shoulder into the freeway and headed toward the center divider.
That recording gives the CHP a direct look at the pedestrian's movements and what the vehicle did just before the impact. Investigators said the Tesla made an evasive maneuver before the collision.
The crash involves Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature, one of the company's most prominent driver-assistance systems. A fatal crash in which the driver said the system was active could renew questions about how it performs in rare, high-risk situations.
More background
Authorities confirmed that the pedestrian was hit by at least one additional vehicle after the Tesla struck him and he ended up in the traffic lanes.
The CHP said those motorists did not stop to cooperate, and they have not identified the other vehicle or driver.
The investigation extends beyond the initial collision because at least one other vehicle hit the pedestrian. A final account of what happened may depend on Tesla's recorded footage and on whether other drivers or witnesses come forward with information.
The CHP said the man came off the shoulder and into the Tesla's lane as the vehicle traveled at freeway speed on a dark section of westbound I-80 near the I-780 interchange.
The crash could draw added scrutiny to a feature marketed around automated driving.
Even if investigators determine the system tried to avoid the impact, the incident could renew questions about the limits of advanced driving technology in unpredictable roadway conditions.
What's being done?
A key part of the CHP investigation is the Tesla's onboard dashcam video.
Officers appear to be using it to map the car's speed, the pedestrian's movement from the right shoulder, and the Tesla's braking and steering response.
Investigators are also trying to locate the other vehicle or vehicles involved after the pedestrian was struck again in the roadway. With no other motorists stopping to cooperate, the CHP is seeking public assistance to reconstruct the full sequence of events.
The CHP Solano-area office said witnesses or anyone with information about the additional vehicles should call 707-639-5600. The Tesla driver's decision to remain at the scene also gives investigators a cooperating witness connected to the initial impact.
The highway patrol is continuing to review how the Tesla responded during the fatal freeway incident.
"The video showed the Tesla's brakes being applied as the vehicle steered to the left in an effort to avoid the pedestrian," the CHP said in a social media statement. "Despite these evasive actions, the right front portion of the Tesla struck the individual."
Where can I learn more?
These stories provide more context on the safety questions surrounding Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature. They examine crash risks, concerning on-road behavior, and growing scrutiny from safety groups and officials.
• Tesla's Full Self-Driving has been linked to recent reckless driving behavior that alarms safety advocates.
• Dashboard footage has shown Teslas struggling with basic driving tasks in everyday traffic.
• U.S. officials pressed for an investigation into Tesla's self-driving technology after railroad crossing incidents.
• Tesla drivers shared video evidence of major concerns involving the FSD platform at crossings.
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