A Tesla S and driver rear-ended a parked firetruck in Culver City CA and the driver claimed that the car was in its semi-autonomous Autopilot mode before it crashed. It was a significant impact and the Model S was totaled. There was no injuries from the driver or fire fighters, that required any medical assistance. The California Highway Patrol and Culver City Fire Department confirmed a Tesla hit a fire truck, but neither could say whether the vehicle had been on Autopilot. The fire truck Engine #42 was situated in the left emergency lane, providing assistance and blocking the scene of a previous accident, when the Tesla S crash occurred.
A Tesla spokesperson says company’s official line on Autopilot, “Autopilot is intended for use only with a fully attentive driver,” it provides active driving assistance features; adaptive cruise control and Autosteer - which keeps the car driving within a lane. No reports if the car slowed down before the crash. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is now gathering formal details or any recorded telemetry data about this accident.
https://twitter.com/CC_Firefighters/...560192/photo/1