Automotive
Tesla driver-assist feature was active during fatal Missouri highway wreck, report says
Tesla told federal regulators that driver assistance was active in an April fatal crash, according to Electrek.
The short version
- A 64-year-old motorist died after her 2024 Tesla Model Y struck a guardrail on Interstate 35 in Missouri.[Electrek]
- Tesla reported to federal regulators that driver assistance was engaged at 73 mph prior to the collision.[Electrek]
- Local officials did not initially report automated features, and Tesla redacted the specific software version involved.[Electrek]
- It remains undetermined whether the software caused the incident or whether standard Autopilot or Full Self-Driving was active.[Electrek]
Key facts
- A 2024 Tesla Model Y crashed on Interstate 35 in Missouri on April 14, 2025, killing the 64-year-old driver.[Electrek]
- Tesla disclosed to federal regulators that an automated driver-assist feature was engaged at the time of the crash.[Electrek]
- Tesla logged that the vehicle was traveling 73 mph in a 70-mph zone before hitting a fixed object.[Electrek]
- Local police and preliminary public incident reports made no mention of any automated driver-assist system being engaged.[Electrek]
- Tesla redacted the crash narrative, operating domain, and software version from regulatory filings, citing confidential business information.[Electrek]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the driver assistance system caused the crash and whether the system in use was Autopilot or Full Self-Driving remain unknown.[Electrek]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.