23-year-old California driver injured when Tesla Model Y veers off I-5 and becomes impaled on guardrail while using lane assist and cruise control

Summary

A Tesla Model Y driver in California was involved in a crash when his vehicle veered off the I-5 interstate and became impaled on a guardrail while using Tesla’s “lane assist” and cruise control features. The 23-year-old driver sustained minor injuries in the incident, which occurred in the early morning hours. California Highway Patrol stated the crash happened for “unknown reasons” and ruled out intoxication or drug influence as a factor. The crash is the second known incident involving a Tesla becoming impaled, with a similar event occurring on the 215 Freeway in San Bernardino the previous year. In that earlier crash, a Tesla collided with other vehicles, rolled over, and became impaled on a metal fence pole, with no serious injuries reported. In both incidents, no assisted driving feature was definitively cited as the cause of the crashes.