Tesla Driver Reportedly Sleeping With Full Self-Driving On? Video shows car crashing into police vehicle in California

Two California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were seriously injured after a Tesla speeding on the highway crashed into a patrol vehicle at the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 80 in California, the highway patrol said.

The incident occurred Oct. 13, 2026, on eastbound I-80, west of Air Base Parkway, while Solano County CHP officers were investigating a fatal crash, the department said in a social media post that accompanied a video of the incident.

The Tesla entered lanes that were closed to traffic and struck a patrol vehicle occupied by two officers, the CHP said.

Both officers suffered serious injuries but are recovering, while the driver of the Tesla suffered minor injuries, according to the department.

The Tesla driver claimed to be asleep

According to the CHP, the driver told investigators that he was asleep and that the vehicle was operating in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode at the time of the crash.

The Highway Patrol said lane closures were marked with flares and cones, with several emergency vehicles on the scene with emergency lights flashing.

Despite those precautions, the Tesla entered the restricted area and crashed into the patrol vehicle, the department said.

The CHP did not provide additional details about the driver’s account or whether the vehicle’s assistance system was activated during the incident.

The CHP warns drivers not to rely entirely on self-driving

After the crash, the CHP warned drivers not to mistake Tesla’s fully autonomous driving system for fully autonomous driving technology.

“Despite its name, Full Self-Driving is not fully autonomous. It is an SAE Level 2 assistance system that requires continuous driver supervision,” the department said.

The Highway Patrol emphasized that drivers remain responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles, even when advanced driver assistance features are in use.

“Technology does not relieve drivers of their responsibility to operate their vehicles safely. Distracted and inattentive driving can have devastating consequences,” the CHP said.

It added that full self-driving does not exempt motorists from the obligation to protect other road users.

“As a driver, you are responsible for the actions of your vehicle! Slow down. Move over. Stay alert. Lives depend on it,” the department said.

The accident has renewed attention to the limitations of driver assistance technologies and the importance of driver supervision, especially in areas where emergency services work.