A Tesla driver utilizing the automobile’s self-driving mode crashed right into a police automobile Thursday morning in Fullerton, virtually hitting an officer who was investigating one other crash, in accordance with authorities.
A Fullerton Police Division officer was investigating a deadly crash round 12:04 a.m. close to Orangethorpe and Courtney Avenues, in accordance with a division information launch. The officer was managing visitors on the time and emergency flares had been positioned on the highway.
The officer was standing exterior his patrol automobile, with its emergency lights on, and managed to leap out of the best way earlier than the motive force of a blue Tesla crashed into his automobile, authorities mentioned. A police dispatcher, who was using within the patrol automobile, additionally moved out of the best way of the crash.
No officers have been injured within the collision. It’s unknown if the Tesla driver sustained any accidents.
The Tesla driver admitted he was working the automobile in self-driving mode whereas utilizing his cellphone, police mentioned. He stayed on the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
The crash comes months after Tesla settled a lawsuit with the household of a Bay Space engineer, who died in a 2018 crash whereas utilizing the corporate’s semi-autonomous self-driving characteristic. Tesla agreed to settle the case for an undisclosed quantity.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and Autopilot programs assist with braking, steering and altering lanes however aren’t fully autonomous. U.S. regulators have investigated a whole bunch of collisions, a few of them lethal, that occurred whereas the Autopilot characteristic was engaged.
The firm issued a recall final yr to repair defects with the self-driving software program.
