Tesla using ‘Autopilot’ crashes into police car

A Tesla using its partially automated driving system crashed into a Florida highway patrol car on an interstate near Orlando and narrowly missed its driver, who had pulled over to assist a disabled vehicle.

Earlier this month, the US government opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot driving system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles.

The trooper whose car was hit shortly before 5am on Saturday had activated his emergency lights and was on the way to the disabled vehicle when the Tesla hit the cruiser’s left side and then collided with the other vehicle, highway patrol spokeswoman Lt Kim Montes said.

The report said the 27-year-old man in the Tesla and the driver of the disabled vehicle suffered minor injuries. The trooper was unhurt.

Tesla did not immediately respond.

Autopilot has been misused by Tesla drivers, who have been caught driving drunk or even travelling in the back seat. The electric vehicle maker uses a camerabased system and radar to spot obstacles, determine what they are, and decide what the vehicle should do.

But researchers say it has trouble with parked emergency vehicles and perpendicular trucks in its path.

The probe began after 11 crashes since 2018 in which Teslas on autopilot or cruise control have hit first responders’ cars. In those crashes, 17 people were injured and one was killed.

An investigation could lead to a recall or other enforcement action.