A fatal crash involving a Tesla in autopilot mode has led to the arrest of a Washington man on vehicular homicide charges. According to a Washington State Patrol incident summary, the accident occurred around 3:45 p.m. on Friday in Maltby, Washington.
The driver of the Tesla Model S, identified as 56-year-old Carl Hunter, told authorities the vehicle “lurched forward” while in autopilot mode and collided with a motorcycle in front of him. The motorcyclist, 28-year-old Jeff Nissen, was ejected from his bike and run over by the Tesla, resulting in his death.
The news of Nissen’s death has left his family and friends in shock and mourning. His sister, Jenessa Fagerlie, described him as a loving person and a doting uncle to his nieces and nephews. She shared that Nissen had a bright future and the family was hopeful that he would have children of his own someday. The sudden loss of her brother has left Fagerlie and her family devastated.
Court documents obtained by FOX 13 Seattle revealed that Hunter admitted to having one drink before the crash but passed field sobriety and blood tests. Investigating officers, however, found that distracted driving was the cause of the accident as Hunter was using his phone at the time of the crash.
It is unclear if he was using the Tesla’s autopilot feature or if he had paid for the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature, which allows the vehicle to make lane changes, navigate around other vehicles, and make turns under the supervision of the driver.
In response to the accident, Tesla has launched a free 30-day trial of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature for new and existing Tesla owners in the U.S. and Canada. The trial was launched with the latest software update for the vehicles, version 12.3 or later. However, the company reminds drivers to “use additional caution” and “remain attentive” while using the feature. Tesla also emphasizes that the vehicles do not become fully autonomous and that drivers should not become complacent.
The accident has raised concerns about the safety of Tesla’s autopilot feature and the potential risks of distracted driving. Some experts are calling for stricter regulations and safety measures for self-driving technology, while others argue that it ultimately falls on the responsibility of the driver to remain attentive while behind the wheel.
This is not the first time that Tesla’s autopilot feature has been involved in a fatal crash. In 2018, a Tesla Model X crashed into a highway barrier while in autopilot mode, killing the driver. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident and found that the driver had been distracted by his phone and that Tesla’s Autopilot system had contributed to the crash.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comment on the recent accident, and it is unknown if the driver in this case was using the autopilot feature at the time of the crash. However, the company has faced criticism in the past for its marketing of the feature and its potential to promote complacent and distracted driving.
As investigations into this tragic accident continue, Nissen’s family and friends are left to grieve the loss of a beloved son, brother, and friend. This accident serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of distracted driving and raises questions about the safety and regulation of self-driving technology. It is a somber reality that despite the advancements in technology, the responsibility of safe driving still falls on the attentiveness of the driver.
