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…

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.

  • ShepherdPie
    142·
    5 months ago

    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. **

    That seems to answer all the questions about this accident.

    • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
      94·
      5 months ago

      Not really. “Self drive mode” isn’t the name of either of the driving systems, that could be either Autopilot or the Full Self Driving beta. The spokesperson was for the police department, not Tesla. They’re unlikely to know there is a difference between the two systems, like most people.

      It’s at best, secondhand info from the driver, and most likely him saying he was on the phone and the car was driving, which would be the same thing they likely said with either system running. I doubt the driver is explaining differences between AP and FSD to the police.

      • Takumidesh@lemmy.world
        6·
        5 months ago

        I think the above commenter was just pointing out that the driver admitted to not paying attention to the road