The driver reportedly told police he was using his phone, while letting the car drive itself
4 hours ago
- A Tesla Model S has crashed into a parked police car in California.
- The driver claimed the electric car was in “self-drive” mode at the time.
- It remains unclear if that was actually the case, but police are continuing to investigate the incident.
A Tesla Model S has slammed into a police car that was blocking traffic, following an earlier accident that resulted in at least one fatality. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on June 12 and California’s Fullerton Police Department noted several flares had been deployed and the police car had its emergency lights on.
Thankfully, the officer saw the car coming and moved off to the side of the road. As for the driver, he reportedly “admitted to engaging his vehicle’s ‘self-drive’ mode while using his cell phone.”
More: New Footage Shows Tesla On Autopilot Crashing Into Police Car After Alerting Driver 150 Times
While it remains unclear if autopilot or full-self driving was actually engaged, the department said the driver was in “clear violation of responsible driving practices.” They added that while semi-autonomous driving systems can be convenient, drivers need to “remember the importance of staying alert and [being] ready to take over at any moment.”
The driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. There’s no word on any charges at this point, but the matter was described as “active and ongoing.”
Regardless of the outcome, the officer’s Dodge Charger suffered quite a bit of damage as the front bumper, front fender, and front passenger side door were all smashed. The model also appears to be leaking fluids and the front suspension has seen better days.
The Model S, on the other hand, had extensive front end damage. The front driver’s door is also destroyed, while at least two windows appear to have been broken.
Needless to say, even if the Tesla was on autopilot or full-self driving, neither are fully autonomous. Despite the names and hype, Tesla notes “The currently enabled Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
