California Pedestrian Killed by Tesla Operating in Full Self-Driving Mode on Interstate 80

A 71-year-old man was killed early Thursday morning after being struck by a Tesla that was reportedly operating in its “Full Self-Driving” autonomous mode. The incident occurred on a stretch of westbound Interstate 80 in Vallejo, according to officials from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 2:35 a.m. following reports of a collision on the freeway. Upon arrival, emergency responders located the pedestrian, who had sustained fatal injuries. The identity of the victim has not yet been released publicly.

The driver of the Tesla, identified as a 26-year-old man from San Francisco, remained at the scene and was described by investigators as cooperative. He informed authorities that the vehicle’s autonomous driving software was active at the time of the crash. To assist with the ongoing investigation, the driver provided the CHP with footage recorded by the vehicle’s integrated dashboard camera system.

A preliminary review of that footage by CHP investigators provides a clearer picture of the moments leading up to the impact. The Tesla was traveling at approximately 70 mph in the second lane of the westbound freeway. The video shows the 71-year-old man walking onto the freeway from the right shoulder and proceeding across the traffic lanes toward the center divide. This path put him directly in the trajectory of the oncoming Tesla.

The dashcam footage confirms that the vehicle attempted evasive action, including the application of brakes and a sudden swerve to the left. However, the right front portion of the Tesla still struck the pedestrian. The CHP further noted that while the man was lying in the traffic lanes following the initial collision, it appears a second vehicle also struck him. That driver did not stop at the scene, and investigators currently have no information regarding the identity of the second motorist or the vehicle involved.

The CHP Solano office is leading the investigation into the fatality. They are urging any witnesses or individuals with information regarding the secondary vehicle involved in the hit-and-run to contact their office as the inquiry continues.