Tesla on Autopilot Crash Into Stopped Truck in Pennsylvania

The crash that killed a couple driving a Tesla on Autopilot sparked a national debate over the safety of self-driving cars. Now, another Tesla on Autopilot has crashed into a stopped truck on a highway in Pennsylvania, further reopening the discussion over the car maker’s driver assistance system.

The incident adds to the scrutiny of Tesla’s Autopilot system, which uses cameras and sensors to control speed, change lanes, and even park itself. The Palo Alto, California-based company tells drivers that the Autopilot feature is meant to assist them, not replace them. They should always keep their hands on the wheel and remain ready to take over at any moment. It also warns that drivers should expect the system to turn itself off to preserve its battery life periodically.

In the latest crash, the Tesla Model 3 reportedly traveled in the middle lane of Interstate 76 when it struck the rear end of a Freightliner semi-truck parked in the same lane, providing traffic control for a proper lane closure. The vehicle reportedly traveled about 68 miles per hour when it hit the back of the truck.

Police said on Monday that the 18-year-old driver of the Tesla, who was not named, has been charged with reckless driving. The truck driver was not hurt. The Pennsylvania State Police is investigating the accident. A similar collision happened in July in which a Tesla on Autopilot crashed into a stopped firetruck on the road. NHTSA is investigating 35 incidents of Teslas using their automated systems colliding with emergency vehicles, nine of which have resulted in death.

It’s not hard to understand why the public is skeptical about these vehicles, mainly when they are used as taxis or for transporting passengers who aren’t familiar with the software. But driving a Tesla on Autopilot for the first time was a completely different experience than I had expected. The car stayed perfectly in its lane and handled turns like it innately understood the physics of the road. But it also behaved the way a Driver’s Ed instructor might supervise a student driver: It did all the essential things very well, but you have to constantly guide from your years of driving experience when it encounters a new situation.

After the Pennsylvania crash, I got access to the car’s onboard logs, and CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the Autopilot was turned off at the time of the crash. He added that the crash would not have occurred if it had been on.