Watch as self-driving Tesla with sleeping driver inside rams into police patrol car, two officers seriously injured

A Tesla in full-self driving mode, carrying a driver who was allegedly asleep, rammed into a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle in Fairfield, according to authorities. The incident which occurred on Tuesday, October 13, left two officers seriously injured.

According to the CHP, just before midnight the Tesla, which was being operated by a 22-year-old man from Sacramento, crashed into the back of the patrol vehicle. The CHP vehicle had only two officers at the time.

The CHP’s statement added that the officers had stopped in a closed lane on Interstate 80, near the Air Base Parkway in Fairfield. They had stopped to investigate an earlier fatal crash. Despite the closed lane being marked with flares and cones and multiple emergency vehicles with flashing lights being present at the scene, the Tesla rammed into the police car.


According to the CHP, two officers who had been outside their vehicle were able to run out of the way before the Tesla struck.

California Highway Patrol released dashcam footage

The California Highway Patrol released dashcam footage of the incident on Thursday, October 15. The footage shows the incident from multiple perspectives. The Tesla can be seen speeding up to the police vehicle in its own rear camera and crashing into it.

The authorities also released footage from dash cameras and rear cameras of other service vehicles present at the scene. One of these shows the Tesla speeding in the left lane and driving straight into the patrol vehicle. The footage from a police car ahead shows the Tesla crashing in the police car, which crashes into another due to the force. The video shows the police car tilting after the crash.

The released video also contains footage from the officers’ bodycam. The officer can be seen jilted from the crash and later gets out of his vehicle and looks around and appears to collapse. The authorities also released several angles of the crash site.

Also read: Despite President Trump’s flurry of posts, memes and AI content daily, Truth Social sees 30% decline in daily users ahead of midterms

Driver claimed he was sleeping behind the wheel

Upon questioning, the 22-year-old claimed that he was asleep and the Tesla was being operated in the ‘Full Self-Driving’ mode at the time of the crash. The mode, despite being called full self-driving, is not completely autonomous. Under the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) levels, which are an international standard for driving automation, the Tesla’s mode is a Level 2.

The mode being level 2 means the driver's assistance system requires the driver’s continuous supervision. According to the SAE, Level 2 vehicles can both steering and acceleration or deacceleration. The driver can take control of the car at any time.

The driver also sustained minor injuries. The officers, who received serious injuries are now recovering after having to spend the night at a hospital, the police said. The CHP also warned others of meeting the same fate. In their statement, the CHP said, “Technology does not relieve drivers of their responsibility to safely operate their vehicles,” adding that, “distracted and inattentive driving can have devastating consequences.” “Slow down. Move over. Stay alert. Lives depend on it,” the CHP further said.

The authorities are currently probing the incident and what charges the driver may face remain unclear. The investigation will also include downloading the Tesla’s footage and data.