Tesla in self-drive mode slams into police car in Orange County

Tony Kurzweil and Chip Yost

9 hours ago

A Tesla was in its self-driving mode when it crashed into a parked patrol vehicle responding to a fatal crash in Orange County Thursday morning, police said.

The officer was on traffic control duty blocking Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton for an investigation into a suspected DUI crash that left a motorcyclist dead around 9 p.m. Wednesday when his vehicle was struck.

A Fullerton Police Department spokesperson said the officer was standing outside his vehicle around midnight when he saw a Tesla driving in his direction and not slowing down.

The officer was able to jump out of the way as the Tesla slammed into the police car, spinning the patrol vehicle around and causing major damage to its front end. he was not injured in the incident.

The spokesperson said that the Tesla was in self-drive mode and the driver admitted to being on a cellphone at the time of the crash.

On its website, Tesla said its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode “does not make your vehicle autonomous” and drivers “must use additional caution and remain attentive.”

It was unclear if the driver would be cited.

The motorist involved in the earlier fatal collision was arrested on suspicion of DUI and driving without a license.

The motorcyclist killed in the crash was not identified but was described as an adult male.

Investigators said the rider was stopped at a red light when he was struck by the suspected DUI driver.