Tesla Faces July Trial Over Fatal Florida Autopilot Crash

Tesla is set to face a trial in July over a fatal crash involving its Autopilot-equipped Model S in Key Largo, Florida, where a 2019 incident resulted in the death of Naibel Benavides Leon and serious injuries to Dillon Angulo. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ruled that the plaintiffs can pursue claims of design defects and failure to warn against Tesla, allowing them to seek punitive damages. The crash occurred when the driver, George McGee, distracted by retrieving a cellphone, ran a stop sign and light without receiving alerts from the Autopilot system before hitting a parked Chevrolet Tahoe near the victims. Despite McGee admitting to distracted driving, the judge found that Tesla's Autopilot system defects were a substantial factor in the accident, especially given the driver’s expectation that the system would prevent the collision. The judge also noted that Autopilot’s risks were not clearly communicated in the vehicle’s manual accessible through the touchscreen, sustaining the failure to warn claim, while dismissing manufacturing defect and negligent misrepresentation claims. Tesla maintains its Autopilot is intended for fully attentive drivers and does not make the vehicle autonomous, but the lawsuit highlights ongoing safety concerns about the technology.