HOUSTON – Several police officers are suing Tesla, claiming an intoxicated driver who had his autopilot engaged plowed into them.
The suit, Dalton Fields et al vs. Tesla et al, was filed yesterday and also names Pappas Restaurants as a defendant.
According to the petition, on Feb. 27 a Tesla Model X engaged in autopilot crashed into several police officers involved in a traffic stop in a blocked-off lane of traffic on the Eastex Freeway.
The driver was allegedly over served alcohol at Pappasito’s Cantina prior to the accident.
The suit accuses Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, of repeatedly exaggerating the actual capabilities of the autopilot, resulting in the public, first responders and drivers being put at serious risk.
As an example, the suit cites an incident in 2019 when a couple filmed themselves having sex with the autopilot engaged. Instead of discouraging the dangerous behavior, Musk tweeted: “Turns out there’s more ways to use Autopilot than we imagined.”
In the past three years, the suit claims that there has been at least 12 Tesla crashes involving first responders on the scene with flashing lights.
“Tesla has admitted that its Autopilot system will occasionally fail to identify a stopped emergency vehicle,” the suit states. “But yet, Tesla made the decision not to recall any of its vehicles…”
Attorney Tony Buzbee is representing the plaintiffs.
Filed in Harris County District Court. Case No. 2021-62207