On August 22, a 2021 Tesla Model Y crossed the grass median of Route 55 in Vineland, hit a tree, slid into oncoming traffic, and struck a Chevrolet SUV head-on. The SUV’s driver, 68-year-old Phillip Eastman of Springfield, PA, was killed.
The Tesla driver and a passenger in the Chevrolet suffered moderate injuries.
It has recently come to light, according to multiple investigative news sources, that the Tesla was on autopilot at the time of the crash. Tesla confirmed in an official report to federal regulators that its driver-assist software (Autopilot or Full Self-Driving) was active at the time of the accident.
The filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated exactly that the car’s automation status was “Verified Engaged” within 30 seconds of the collision. The 30-second window is the reporting standard for filings on accidents involving self-driving cars. Many of the details of what happened were redacted by Tesla from the official report. The investigation is ongoing.
