The driver of the Tesla Model S (28-year-old female from Lehi, Utah) was subsequently interviewed by the South Jordan Police and said that she had been using the “Autopilot” featurein the Tesla. While Tesla’s Autopilot feature indicates that a driver must be attentive at all times, the driver admitted that she was looking at her phone prior to the collision. Based upon witness information, the driver of the Tesla did not brake or take any action to avoid the collision.

The driver of the Tesla was transported to a local hospital with a broken right foot. The driver of the Unified Fire Authority vehicle was checked for injuries related to whiplash; however, he was not taken to a hospital for evaluation. (Please note updates to injury information.)

This remains an active investigation and the South Jordan Police Department is currently working with technicians from Tesla to gather and review data stored within the vehicle, which may take several days.

As a reminder for drivers of semi-autonomous vehicles, it is the driver’s responsibility to stayalert, drive safely, and be in control of the vehicle at all times. Tesla makes it clear that drivers should always watch the road in front of them and be prepared to take corrective actions. Failureto do so can result in serious injury or death. Check with the vehicle’s owner manual todetermine if this technology can be used on city streets or no