VALLEJO, CA — A 71-year-old man was killed early Thursday after being hit by a self-driving Tesla while crossing Interstate 80 in Vallejo, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities said the crash happened around 2:35 a.m. on westbound I-80 near the I-780 interchange. When officers and first responders reached the scene, they found the pedestrian with severe injuries. He was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the Tesla, a 26-year-old San Francisco man, remained at the scene and told officers the car was operating in Full Self-Driving mode when it struck the man.
CHP says the pedestrian entered the freeway from the right shoulder
Investigators said the Tesla was traveling at about 70 mph when the pedestrian stepped onto the freeway and began crossing toward the center divider. CHP said that path put him directly in front of the vehicle.
According to the agency, dashcam footage captured the sequence leading up to the collision. The video reportedly shows the Tesla braking and steering left in an attempt to avoid the man.
Despite those maneuvers, the right front portion of the car struck him. The CHP said the video provided full footage of the crash because it was recorded by the vehicle’s dashcam.
Dashcam video captured evasive maneuvers before impact
In a statement posted on social media, the CHP said the Tesla applied its brakes and moved left as the pedestrian crossed into its path. The agency described those actions as evasive, but not enough to prevent the collision.
The crash happened before dawn on a stretch of freeway where traffic moves quickly and visibility can be limited. The agency’s account indicates the pedestrian had already entered the traveled lanes by the time the Tesla approached.
Officials have not released additional details about why the man was on the freeway or where he came from before entering the road.
Pedestrian was hit again after first impact as other vehicles did not stop
CHP said the 71-year-old was struck again by at least one other vehicle while lying in the traffic lanes after the first collision. Investigators added that no other drivers stopped to help or cooperate with authorities at the scene.
The other vehicle or vehicles involved have not yet been identified. That part of the investigation remains open as officers try to determine who else was on the freeway at the time of the fatal crash.
Because the additional driver has not been identified, authorities are still piecing together the full sequence of events after the first impact.
Tesla driver remained at the scene and spoke with officers
The driver of the Tesla stayed at the location of the crash and spoke with CHP officers after the collision. Authorities identified him as a 26-year-old San Francisco man.
He told officers the vehicle had been using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving autonomous mode. CHP has not said whether investigators have determined if the system played a role beyond what the driver reported.
The agency’s investigation appears to be focusing on both the behavior of the pedestrian and the actions of all vehicles involved in the crash. That includes the Tesla’s speed, the dashcam footage and the unidentified second striking vehicle.
Investigators are asking witnesses to call the Solano-area office
CHP said anyone who saw the crash or has information about the other vehicles involved should contact the Solano-area office at 707-639-5600. The agency is looking for witnesses who may help identify the second driver or confirm what happened after the initial impact.
The department also offered condolences to the man’s family and friends, saying the Solano Area CHP extends its deepest sympathy during a difficult time.
The fatal crash adds to growing public attention on how autonomous-driving systems respond in real-world traffic, especially when pedestrians enter freeway lanes unexpectedly. In this case, investigators have only laid out the circumstances they have verified so far.
