Tesla crash victim lauded ‘full self-driving’ in TikTok videos

BERKELEY, California — A Tesla car driver killed in a modern accident in California praised the automaker’s “whole self-driving” options, and posted video clips on his obvious TikTok account, in which he appeared to travel with his arms off the wheel.

On May possibly 5, a Tesla Design three crashed into an overturned truck on a highway in Fontana, killing the Tesla driver and injuring the truck driver and a motorist who experienced stopped to support him.

The Affiliated Press news company cited police as expressing a preliminary investigation experienced established the Tesla’s driver assistant technique Autopilot was engaged prior to the crash.

But in a correction issued late on Friday, police claimed, “There has not been a last determination made as to what driving method the Tesla was in.”

Two video clips of a person driving with his arms off the wheel have been posted on the alleged Tiktok account of the victim, 35-12 months-aged Steven Hendrickson of Operating Springs in California.

“What would do I do devoid of my whole self-driving Tesla soon after a extensive working day at work,” claimed a information on 1. “Coming property from LA soon after work, thank god, self-travel,” claimed a comment on a different online video, including, “Most effective car at any time!”

Tesla dubbed its driver assistant options “Autopilot” or “Comprehensive Self-Driving,” which authorities say could mislead shoppers into believing the car can travel by itself.

On its web site, Tesla claimed its Autopilot function does not make the car or truck autonomous, nevertheless.

On his Facebook account, Hendrickson was shooting a online video although driving on autopilot, expressing, “Really don’t get worried. I am on autopilot.”

Family members customers have been not out there for comment and Tesla, which has disbanded its community relations groups, was not instantly out there for comment.

Tesla Club-SoCal, a team of Tesla homeowners in Southern California, claimed on social media that he was an lively member who “beloved his Tesla.” He is survived by his spouse and two young children, it extra.

The National Highway Website traffic Safety Administration has been investigating extra than two dozen crashes of Tesla cars, which include the Fontana crash and a substantial-profile 1 in Texas last month that killed two adult men.

Since 2016 at minimum a few Tesla cars working on Autopilot have been in deadly crashes, two involving a Tesla car driving beneath a semi-truck in Florida.

The U.S. transportation security board claimed Tesla’s autopilot technique failed to appropriately detect a truck as it crossed the car’s route, contributing to the mishaps also triggered by a lack of driver awareness and an enough driver monitoring technique.