Man Allegedly Falls Asleep While Tesla Drives Itself, Crashing Into Police Cruiser and Injuring Two Officers

A serious crash in California has raised fresh questions about the limits of driver-assistance technology after a 22-year-old man allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel of a Tesla operating in Full Self-Driving mode.

The collision occurred shortly before midnight on October 13, 2026, on Interstate 80 near Fairfield, California. California Highway Patrol officers were investigating a separate fatal crash when the Tesla struck their parked patrol vehicle.

According to authorities, the police cruiser was positioned in a closed lane marked by road flares, traffic cones and flashing emergency lights. Dashcam footage released by the California Highway Patrol showed the Tesla approaching the scene at high speed before colliding with the cruiser.

Two officers suffered serious injuries, while the Tesla driver sustained minor injuries. Authorities said the driver reported that he had been asleep when the crash happened.

The incident has renewed attention on the capabilities and limitations of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system. Despite its name, the technology is not fully autonomous. Tesla states that drivers must remain attentive and supervise the vehicle while the system is in use.

The California Highway Patrol emphasized that drivers remain responsible for operating their vehicles safely, even when using advanced driving-assistance features.

The incident remains a reminder that driver-assistance technology does not eliminate the need for alertness behind the wheel.

Source: PEOPLE