Man leaves Tesla in ‘autopilot mode’ to watch movie, nearly kills two officers

Two police officers narrowly escaped injury and possibly death after a Tesla on “autopilot mode” crashed into their parked vehicles. 

The accident occurred in Spring Hope, North Carolina earlier this week. 

According to WRAL News, Devainder Goli, a 66-year-old emergency room doctor switched his Tesla to “autopilot mode” and began watching a movie on his phone as the car drove him back home to Raleigh. 

As the car approached a lane closure on Highway 64, the autopilot system apparently malfunctioned, sending the vehicle crashing into a Nash County Sheriff’s Officer patrol car and a State Highway Patrol car as both officers stood outside of their vehicles. 

“Luckily, the state trooper pushed our deputy out of the way when he heard the tires squall and in an instant we could have lost a life or several lives. It could have been very horrific,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone.

At the time of the crash, the deputy was overseeing the overnight US Highway 64 lane closure and the highway patrol trooper was investigating a separate crash. 

While the Tesla is marketed as having “full self-driving capabilities,” the website still states that the car requires attention from the driver, even while in autopilot mode. 

Goli has been charged with a move-over violation and viewing a television device while driving.