MONROE — The driver who let his car rear-end and fatally crush a motorcyclist in stop-go traffic on state Route 522 close to the Fales Road exit told a state trooper he had “looked down at his cell phone” while his 2022 Tesla Model S sedan was “rolling forward in autopilot” mode when it hit the motorcyclist, according to the responding trooper’s report.
The crash happened Friday, April 19.
The Snohomish Tesla driver, 56, was arrested for vehicular homicide. He bailed out of jail Sunday, April 21 for $100,000.
The Tribune is not naming the driver as the newspaper does not know if he has been arraigned on charges yet.
Deceased motorcyclist Jeffrey Nissen, of Stanwood, was 28.
Tesla’s Autopilot, which uses cameras to detect its surroundings, has a cruise control setting that matches the speed of traffic ahead and has a way to keep the car within a marked lane.
Tesla says on its website that “while using Autopilot, it is your responsibility to stay alert, keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and maintain control of your vehicle.”
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation on Tesla’s driver-assistance capabilities which reportedly could let drivers take their hands off the wheel for extended periods.
The Snohomish Tesla driver told police that the car was in Autopilot when it suddenly lurched forward and he heard the car hit the motorcycle.
A more robust mode branded as “Full Self-Driving” has the same Autopilot feature but also self-navigates the car. That is in beta.
Both modes are purchasable software add-ons from Tesla.
