A Tesla driver is blaming their vehicle’s Full Self-Driving software for causing an eight-car pileup in the Yerba Buena Tunnel in California in November, according to a California Highway Patrol traffic cars report obtained by CNN News via The Verge.
According to the driver, their Tesla’s software hit the brakes unexpectedly, causing the eight-car pileup, with nine people suffering minor injuries, and one hospitalization. Four ambulances were rushed to the scene.
The Tesla in question was a Model S, and it was reportedly travelling at roughly 55 mph (88.5 km/h) before making a sudden and unsafe lane change and unexpectedly braking, causing the vehicle to slow down to 20 mph (32 km/h).
The abrupt braking caused the vehicles behind the Tesla to crash into one another.
“California Highway Patrol said in the Dec. 7 report that it could not confirm if “full self-driving” was active at the time of the crash. A highway patrol spokesperson told CNN Business on Wednesday that it would not determine if “full self-driving” was active, and Tesla would have that information,” wrote CNN.
It’s worth noting that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software is already under investigation by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in regard to a Model S accident that left three passengers dead. Read more about it here.
Image credit: KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco