Sleeping Tesla Driver Shocked Autopilot Didn’t Tuck Him In Before Plowing Into Police Cruiser

- Model Y driver claims he had Autopilot engaged and fell asleep.
- Police found a loaded pistol without a valid owner’s identification.
- The 43-year-old was arrested and charged with several offenses.
A Tesla driver in Illinois has been arrested after plowing into the rear of a Ford Explorer police cruiser that had stopped for a traffic investigation.
However, this was more than a simple case of a distracted driver rear-ending another motorist, as the Tesla owner told police that the vehicle’s Autopilot system was engaged and that he had fallen asleep behind the wheel.
Read: Tesla Quietly Settles Fatal Autopilot Crash Just Before Jury Could Weigh In
Local authorities say a 2022 Tesla Model Y caused the crash and shared images of the crumpled cruiser on Facebook. They show that the impact has caved in the SUV’s rear end and that both taillights have been knocked out of position.
In all likelihood, some damage has also been done to the frame, and there’s a good chance the Ford could be declared a complete write-off.
Autopilot or Absent Driver?
The South Barrington Police Department says the squad car was pulled over to the shoulder with its emergency lights flashing when the Tesla plowed into the back of it. The driver, Joseph Fresso, told officers he had activated Autopilot, dozed off, and didn’t wake up in time to react.
Two officers and Fresso were taken to Ascension St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates. All three sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were later released.
Driver Arrested and Charged
To make matters worse for the 43-year-old driver, he was found to be carrying a loaded handgun, despite not having a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card. As a result, he was reportedly arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
He was also cited for failing to yield a full lane or reduce speed when approaching an emergency vehicle. Fresso was taken to Cook County Circuit Court, where he’s scheduled to appear on December 3.
If the driver did indeed fall asleep with Autopilot engaged, it could raise concerns about the effectiveness of Tesla’s driver monitoring system.
The electric carmaker will likely send engineers out to analyze the Model Y and determine whether the driver-assistance system was enabled at the time of the collision and if its warning systems functioned as they should have.
