by Accident with Police Car
A Tesla driver in Illinois was arrested after he crashed into the rear of a police Ford Explorer that had stopped to investigate a traffic situation. This was not an ordinary case of careless driving – the Tesla owner informed police that the autopilot system was activated, and he himself had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Collision Consequences
Local authorities reported that the accident was caused by a 2022 Tesla Model Y and published photos of the damaged police car. The images show that the impact crumpled the rear of the SUV, and both rear taillights were displaced from their position. The vehicle’s frame was likely damaged, and there is a high probability that the Ford will be declared a total loss.
Incident Circumstances
South Barrington Police reported that the patrol car was parked on the shoulder with its emergency lights on when the Tesla crashed into its rear. Driver Joseph Fresso told officers that he activated autopilot, fell asleep, and did not wake up in time to react.
Two officers and Fresso were taken to Ascension St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates. All three sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were later discharged.
Criminal Charges
The situation for the 43-year-old driver was complicated by the fact that a loaded pistol without a valid firearm owner’s license was found on him. The man was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
He was also fined for failing to comply with requirements for completely changing lanes or reducing speed when approaching an emergency vehicle. Fresso was taken to Cook County Circuit Court, where hearings in the case are scheduled for December 3.
Autopilot Safety Questions
If the driver indeed fell asleep with autopilot enabled, this may raise concerns about the effectiveness of Tesla’s driver monitoring system. The electric vehicle manufacturer will likely send engineers to analyze the Model Y and determine whether the driver assistance system was activated at the moment of collision, and whether its warning systems were functioning properly.
This incident occurred during a period when regulatory bodies are strengthening oversight of autonomous driving systems. Similar incidents often lead to a reassessment of safety protocols and potential changes in legislation governing the use of semi-autonomous vehicle control systems on public roads.
