Mesa Woman Killed in Tesla Full Self-Driving Accident; Government investigates car manufacturers

PHOENIX (AZFamily/AP) — An Arizona woman was killed by a driver using Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” feature as the automaker faces an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Tesla reported the four accidents to NHTSA on behalf of the agency that covers all automakers, including one that occurred in northern Arizona and resulted in the death of a Valley woman.

According to an agency database, the pedestrian was killed in November 2023 in Rimrock, Arizona, north of Camp Verde and 100 miles from Phoenix, after being struck by a 2021 Tesla Model Y.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a statement that the accident occurred on Interstate 10 last November just after 5 p.m. Two vehicles collided on the highway and blocked the left lane. A Toyota 4Runner stopped and two people got out to assist with traffic control.

A red Tesla Model Y then hit the 4Runner and one of the people getting out. Officials reported that a 71-year-old woman from Mesa was pronounced dead at the scene.

The collision occurred because the sun was shining in the Tesla driver’s eyes, so no charges were filed against the Tesla driver, said Raul Garcia, a DPS public information officer. He added that glare from the sun also contributed to the initial collision.

Investigators will examine whether autonomous driving features can “detect and respond appropriately to poor visibility conditions on the roadway, and if so, what circumstances contribute to these accidents.”

The study covers around 2.4 million Teslas from model years 2016 to 2024.

A message seeking comment was left Friday from Tesla, in which it repeatedly noted that the system cannot drive itself and human drivers must always be ready to intervene.

Last week, Tesla held an event at a Hollywood studio to unveil a fully autonomous robotaxi that has no steering wheel or pedals.

Musk, who has previously promised autonomous vehicles, said the company plans to let the autonomous Models Y and 3 drive without human drivers next year. Robotaxis without steering wheels would be available starting in 2026, starting in California and Texas, he said.

The impact of the investigation on Tesla’s autonomous driving ambitions is unclear. The NHTSA would have to approve any robotaxi without pedals or a steering wheel, and it’s unlikely that would happen while the investigation is ongoing. However, if the company tries to use autonomous vehicles in its existing models, it would likely be subject to government regulations.

There are no federal regulations specifically focused on autonomous vehicles, although they must meet broader safety regulations.

NHTSA also said it will investigate whether other similar accidents have occurred involving full self-driving in low visibility conditions and ask the company for information on whether updates have affected the system’s performance in those conditions.

“Specifically, this review will evaluate the timing, purpose and capabilities of such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact,” the documents say. Tesla has recalled “Full Self-Driving” twice under pressure from NHTSA, which in July demanded information from law enforcement and the company after a Tesla using the system struck and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle.

The recalls were issued because the system was programmed to run stop signs at slow speeds and because the system violated other traffic laws. Both issues should be resolved with online software updates.

Critics said Tesla’s system, which uses only cameras to detect hazards, doesn’t have the right sensors to be fully self-driving. Almost all other companies working on autonomous vehicles use not only cameras but also radar and laser sensors to be able to see better in the dark or in poor visibility conditions.

Musk has said that people can only drive with eyesight, so cars should only be able to drive with cameras. He called lidar (light detection and ranging), which uses lasers to detect objects, “stupidity.”

The “Full Self-Driving” recalls came after a three-year investigation into Tesla’s less sophisticated Autopilot system, which crashed into emergency vehicles and other vehicles parked on highways, many with flashing warning lights.

That investigation was dropped last April after the agency pressured Tesla to recall its vehicles to strengthen a weak system that ensured driver attention. A few weeks after the recall, NHTSA began investigating whether it worked.

NHTSA began investigating an Autopilot accident in 2021 after receiving 11 reports that Teslas using Autopilot had struck parked emergency vehicles. In documents explaining why the investigation was closed,

NHTSA said it ultimately found 467 accidents involving Autopilot, resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths. Autopilot is a fancy version of cruise control, while “Full Self-Driving,” according to Musk, is capable of driving without human intervention.

The investigation, launched Thursday, breaks new ground for the NHTSA, which had previously viewed Tesla’s systems as assistive drivers rather than self-driving drivers. With the new research, the agency is focusing on the possibilities of “full autonomous driving,” rather than just ensuring drivers are paying attention.

Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said Autopilot’s previous investigation did not examine why the Teslas did not see emergency vehicles and fail to stop.

“Before they put the responsibility on the driver rather than the car,” he said. “What they are saying here is that these systems are unable to adequately detect safety risks, regardless of whether drivers are paying attention or not.”

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