Tesla on Autopilot Rear Ended Police Car While ‘Driver’ was Watching a Movie
North Carolina – In a bizarre incident that unfolded near the Nash and Franklin counties border, a doctor from Raleigh found himself in hot water after his Tesla, operating on autopilot, rear-ended a police car while he was preoccupied watching a movie on his phone.
Law enforcement officials swiftly arrived at the scene along U.S. 64 West, where they discovered Dr. Devainder Goli, a respected emergency room physician after his Tesla collided with a Nash County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. The impact caused a chain reaction, subsequently involving a North Carolina State Highway Patrol cruiser.
The unfortunate event transpired late on Wednesday, just after midnight. The parked squad cars, stationed on Highway 64, were manned by officers who were dutifully attending to an unrelated accident. Although the officers were thrown off balance by the impact, they fortunately escaped any severe injuries. The location of the mishap was approximately 13 miles away from Nashville, a town in North Carolina.
According to police reports, the 66-year-old doctor was engrossed in streaming and watching a movie on his smartphone when the collision occurred. Consequently, Dr. Goli now faces charges for “watching an electronic viewing device while operating a motor vehicle.” It is important to note that during the incident, the Tesla was functioning in its autopilot mode.
Miraculously, neither Dr. Goli nor the officers sustained any injuries. However, the consequences for the vehicles involved were far from minor. The doctor’s Tesla Model S sedan suffered severe damage to its right side and front, while the sheriff’s vehicle had its left rear end crushed.
Curiosity surrounds the movie that held the doctor’s attention, but the news media has yet to disclose this crucial detail.
This peculiar incident serves as a reminder of the potential hazards and consequences associated with over-reliance on autonomous driving systems. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact the public’s perception of self-driving vehicles and their usage.
