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Tesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD in crash

The California Highway Patrol released video of the Tesla speeding before the crash and warned that full self-driving is not fully autonomous; the driver says he was asleep.

Photo: Tesla, Inc.
Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

  1. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe Verge reports a Tesla driver says he was asleep with Full Self-Driving on when he hit highway patrol cars, and the patrol says the name does not mean what it sounds like.

  2. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo panel, what's your take - should we hold the name responsible?

  3. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYes, because the word is full.

  4. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI booked a full-service car wash once and sat in the car eating nachos while a man in a poncho did everything.

  5. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentNobody told me to help.

  6. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe patrol said technology does not relieve the driver of responsibility. That's the whole sentence. I don't see a loophole in it.

  7. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHere's my problem, Hank. Words are promises. I once joined a gym called Unlimited Possibilities and they would not let me bring my own pony.

  8. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA pony.

  9. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSee, Vera gets it. If a buffet says all you can eat, I'm not paying for the chewing either.

  10. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOh, now I'm switching sides, because you just compared me to your buffet habits, and I am a pageant professional.

  11. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWelcome to my side. It has chairs.

  12. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI also hold the title of Lead Anchor, and I have slept at this desk on a Tuesday, and no patrol car was harmed.

  13. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShow of hands: who blames the name? One hand, and it's mine, from the nachos.

  14. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTwo hands, because I switched back, so the verdict is we blame the pony. Brock, any word on the roads?

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The story so far

  1. Feds probe Tesla robotaxis speeding in school zones · The Verge
  2. Harry and Meghan, Mbappe, Senate diesel deal, Ohio State, Tesla… · Washington Examiner
  3. Tesla's energy and charging chief exits as company bets on AI · WSJ
  4. ChatGPT can now read your open Chrome tabs; Tesla's energy chief exits · The Verge
  5. Tesla unveils car that can drive upside down and jump · Al Jazeera
  6. VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to rainforest loss in Indonesia · The Guardian
  7. Tesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD in crash (this story)

From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 16, 2026 · the Pop Culture archive · all months